Atrapar fails

Press, 24 June 1985, Page 35

Atrapar fails

NZPA Sydney The home straight traffic again robbed the crack NewZealand sprinter. Atrapar, of the top money when he ran third in the sAustso,ooo Tourist Minister's Cup over 1350 m at Doomben on Saturday. The five-year-old likes to get back a little in his racing and finish with his famed withering burst, but, as in the Elders Handicap a fortnight ago, he was fighting for a run at Doomben before finally getting clear and surging to the line. The cup, formerly known as the Stefan Sprint, was taken out by Sport's Ruler by three-quarters of a length from favoured West Australian, Coal Pak, with Atrapar just a half-head further in arrears and the New Zealander was in front of both his rivals just a few strides past the post. Trainer Bill Calder reflected later on his luck, but told journalists he would still be sticking to his plans of setting Atrapar for the “Bernborough Double" — the Rothmans 100,000 over 1350 m in a fortnight and then the 2200 m Foufex Cup the following week. “He’s been most unlucky in recent races not to get a run in the straight and the same thing happened this time,” he said. “Our turn will come and it’s just a matter of waiting. Let’s hope it comes in the Rothmans,” he added.

Luck also turned a blind eye to another of the New Zealanders in the race when Mr Illusion, which won the Stefan last year, picked up a severe stone bruise in midweek training and despite intensive treatment and a specially-designed set of racing shoes, did not stretch out fully in the straight to finish eighth. The other New Zealander in the Tourist Minister’s Cup was Final Affair which could not rekindle the form that saw him win the 4BC Sprint last week, and after getting as close as fourth going into the home turn, finished tenth, while the New Zealand-owned Mr Ironclad having his first run back, finished fourteenth. Final Affair's trainer, Nigel Landers, had better luck in the Sheraton Brisbane Handicap over 2048 m — a leadup for the Fourex Cup — when his stayer Coober’s Gold came home third behind former New Zealander, Astrolin and Toyed. Coober’s Gold, which does his best racing on softer ground and was second in the Fourex Cup last year, made a bold dash for the front in the home straight, but was run down by the two winners with Astrolin scoring by an impressive two and a quarter lengths, with Toyed just a head clear of the New Zealander. Also in the race was Al Dwain, having his second Australian outing this campaign, but he raced in midfield throughout and finished ninth. The best result for the New Zealand camp was turned in by the Paddy Busuttin-trained Glenties, which took out the ?Austl2,ooo Cairns Graduation over 2048 m by a nose from Linden Grove, with a length and a half to Zamazephyr. Busuttin told journalists the mare had been brought to Brisbane by her Australian owners in a bid to get a local win or two to her name before she goes to stud at the end of the season, and following the result might try her for the Fourex Cup in three weeks. Other New Zealanders going out included San Lefair, a creditable fourth in the Jupiters Casino Handicap over 1637 m, and Nuclear Dream, last in the 1350 m Gladstone Novice. The wretched luck that has dogged New Zealand trainer, Peter McKenzie, with Mr Illusion spread to stablemate Nuclear Dream when he was found to be bleeding after the race, and his racing days could be finished.