Aptitude downs Burletta

Press, 7 February 1985, Page 30

Aptitude downs Burletta

Special correspondent Wellington

Awapuni’s Aptitude scored an upset when she downed the hot favourite, Burletta, in the Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes at Tauherenikau yesterday. Showing extreme courage, a trademark that has marked much of her racing, Aptitude fought back under a hard ride from David Walsh to beat Burletta by a half head. The two were four lengths clear of Harvest Maid. One of the hottest favourites to set foot on a racecourse for a long time, Burletta looked in for a win when she coasted to the lead on the home turn.

Her rider, Noel Harris, allowed himself the luxury of a quick look over his shoulder, and success seemed assured. But a few metres on, Burletta began to struggle, Aptitude kept going and the two went to the line, with Aptitude just ahead. The ride was a triumph for Walsh, who, with his sixty-fourth win, has a handy lead in the jockeys’ premiership. He took Aptitude to the front, kept her going and in the end the mare ran the 2000 m in 2min 0.255, not quite a track record. Aptitude is trained by ■Alan and Vivienne Kaye, a father and daughter partnership for an Auckland businessman, Mr Henry Norcross. Aptitude is a through and through West Derby Stud product. She was bred by Mrs Ted Preston and went to Mr Norcross for $5OOO at a national sale. Yesterday’s win was her seventh and she has 26 places (12 seconds) and has won $66,800. Two years ago Mr Norcross did not own a horse. Now he has some 30, mostly mares, as he establishes his Auckland-based Galaxy Lodge Stud. “I just can’t wait to get this mare to stud,” he said.

“She’ll tell us when she is ready to go.” Mr Norcross, who bought and sold at the national and mixed sale, made the trip down from Auckland, but listening to race previews on the way down he was wondering. “Burletta was a certainty, I wondered if it was worth the trip.” It certainly was for Mr Norcross who 12 months earlier at Otaki had seen Aptitude overcome a challenge from Mirikau Lass to win the main prize.

Aptitude, now four, has been in demand. “I’ve had offers for her,” Mr Norcross said. “I had an offer of $300,000 from the United States and the same from here (in New Zealand), but she is not for sale.” Aptitude does not have a nomination for Waikato next week, but Alan Kaye may put her in the Air N.Z. Stakes at Ellerslie at the end of the month.