Tapdog reveals his full ability

Quoted from Geraldton Guardian. Photo courtesy of Michael Farrell

Tapdog reveals his full ability

By NOEL McCULLOCH

IT WAS a fairytale come true for connections when local four-year-old Tapdog won yesterday's $25,000 Geraldton Swan Draught Gold Cup.

Having only his seventh race start, Tapdog was the medium of heavy support on course, that saw his price tumble from an opening quote of 5/2 to start a warm 7/4 favourite in the premier event.

Jockey Chris Usher had Tapdog in a prominent position as the field went past the winning post for the first time, where A Dude had worked his way to the front.

A Dude still had charge as the field approached the 1000m with Tapdog tucked away in third position and last year's winner Sir Donald, following his every move.

With only six or seven lengths covering the field, other favoured runners - Silver Sim, Fujiama, Boa Force and Sky's Will - were close enough to play a part in what was developing into a sprint home.

The Geraldton Gold Cup...a champ emerges

After the stirring win over 1600m we had the 4yo lined up for his first start in Open company and a crack at the Geraldton Cup over 2100m. It was an exciting 2 weeks preparation, and the butterflies were building up as the big day drew near.

We drew barrier 7, which was not the worst but we would have preferred one closer to the inside. We had the local runners covered, but the handicapper had done thrown us a wobbly with the city winner Sir Donald who had one the cup the year before. We shook our heads when the weights came out and wondered at why they had taken such an illogical stance for such an important local event. They gave him 55kg and coming off an Ascot win as a lead-up, just 2kg above Tapdog who was coming through from a cls 5 win. We figured he was 2kg under weighted.
All we could do was hope he had the class to rise above the disadvantage. Clive had him picture perfect as he always did. We decided to have a good bet on him and I recall my sister Suzanne telling me by phone before the race that he was a certainty. The up and coming 4yo, with no weight on his back and coming through big victories from his last 2 races. Well, we backed him that way and then crossed fingers until we would find out. I was on my way back from watching the US Masters in Augusta, and we'd worked out that I'd be about 2 hours from landing back into Paris. As always, I was listening in via dad's telephone. What an excitement! I could barely here the race but can still recall dad's comments as they rounded the corner. Dog had jumped well and settled into a lovely position just off the pace again. He was traveling very well coming to the corner and Chris moved on him early so he swept to the lead with Sir Donald mounting his challenge. As they rounded i heard dad say "the bloody two kilos" and could only guess (I sitting in seat 4B, dead silence around me, not a sole awake on the flight) that Sir Donald had loomed over top....but NO! The Dog dug deep and fought out for a brilliant win.

It brought up his 4th win, 3 on the trot and a Cup race in only his 7th race start. We were over the moon, and this was my most thrilling moment in racing.

In the News, Apr 12 2002

TRAINER Clive Lauritsen with Tapdog. The four-year-old has been in scintillating form this season but is as yet untried at the Cup distance. (Photo by Angie Simms).

Solid preparation should benefit Fujiama

SUNDAY'S Geraldton Swan Draught Gold Cup is one of the most open in year's.

What makes the race more interesting is that in the field of 13 runners only five have started over the Cup distance of 2100m - the other eight being unknown qualities.

Last year's winner, the Garry Delane trained Sir Donald has had three starts over the distance for two wins. At his last start, Sir Donald carried 54kg when a narrow winner over Indigo King at Ascot on March 30 in a tight three way finish.

Sir Donald is nicely drawn in barrier two and will be ridden by Daniel Staek, who rode the eight-year-old gelding to his Ascot victory.

If Sir Donald's form can be used as a gauge for the Cup, then the Andrew Voigt trained Fujiama must come in calculations.

Fujiama started in the same race at Ascot and finished third, less than a neck behind Sir Donald. That run would have rounded the seven-year-old gelding's Cup preparation off nicely.