Atrapar escapes Flag Inns penalty

Press, 30 December 1985, Page 25

Atrapar escapes Flag Inns penalty

Special correspondent Wellington The Levin galloper, Atrapar, has escaped a penalty for the $71,000 Flag Inns Trophy Race at Ellerslie on Thursday. Atrapar was eligible for a rehandicap after his impressive victory in the $20,000 Lion Red Cup at the Manawatu Racing Club’s meeting at Awapuni on Saturday but the handicapper, Mr Dean Nowell, has decided to leave the gelding on 55kg in the Flag Inns. It is not surprising that Mr Nowell has made that decision as Atrapar carried 54.5 kg in Saturday’s race, half a kilo less than Saturday’s third place-getter, Tanalyse. Mr Nowell already had Atrapar a kilo ahead of Tanalyse in the Flag Inns. Atrapar was having only his second start back from a spell when he narrowly beat Commissionaire on Saturday and indicated he would be a major threat in the Ellerslie event.

He has already proved himself as one of the country’s top milers with a victory in the Jarden Mile at Trentham last January,

while he was also a close third in the Easter at Ellerslie this year. His regular rider, Maurice Campbell, was unable to confirm on Saturday whether he would be able to go to Ellerslie. He has commitments at home, but providing he is able to arrange a flight north on Thursday, he now seems certain to be there. After the Flag Inns, Atrapar will return home for the Wellington meeting, where he is likely to tackle the 1200 m Wrightson Handicap before attempting to win his second Jarden. He will then step up over more ground for some of the rich weight-for-age events, including the Air New Zealand and Television New Zealand Stakes, having run second in the latter race last season. The Adios ll—Mexiquenna six-year-old has been a grand performer for his owner-breeder, Bill Calder, of Levin. He has now won 10 races and recorded 22 placings from his 49 starts for stakes of $167,717. He had a particularly fine season as a five-year-old when he picked up $lOO,OOO in New Zealand and another $13,000 during a Brisbane winter campaign which included a third in the Tourist

Minister’s Cup and an unlucky fourth in the Elders Handicap. He injured a foot towards the end of his Australian campaign and had six weeks out in the paddock on his return home.

Campbell, who was recording his seventh win in the last 14 days, had Atrapar well placed just behind the leaders throughout. He was held up a little approaching the turn but then had a huge gap to come through soon after straightening. Commissionaire had swooped up to lead soon after turning into the straight and then Tanalyse burst through the centre. But Atrapar came with the last run to beat Commissionaire by a long neck, with Tanalyse weakening slightly to be a length back in third place. It was a fine effort by Commissionaire, which now finds 1600 m a little short but the easy track allowed him to stay in touch. The $4OOO he earned for second place was enough to push him past the $300,000 mark, a magnificent achievement for a horse which has raced solely in New Zealand.

He will now be aimed at the .$12,000 DB Central Breeders Stakes (2000 m at, Woodville on January 11.