The legend retires

Our grand old warrior has run his last race, finishing third in his final hitout over 1600m at Geraldton.

He finished off his career having amassed close to quarter of a million dollars, with 16 race wins, 7 of those in cup events.

He has brought us countless joy, most of which is connected to Dad. Especially that final Geraldton Cup win which was epic in it's meaning to us all.

We've not found the Dog's retirement place yet. For the moment Clive will keep him at the stable and use him to help educate Sonny.

There is an article up at PTT here.

Ascot over 1500m on March 15th

After a couple of runs in Geraldton lumbering the big weights in sprints we headed to the city into a 1500m race for his class.

We were not expecting big things, as the Dog is not quite up to his old performance. We were hoping that he put in a solid run and at least showed us he still wants to perform and can at this level.

It was nice to see him lining up again at Ascot. We have some good memories and Amber was racing the same day.

We had a small bet ew on him but that was way wide of the mark.

Results here

GER 1200m - 1st run for over a year

Photo courtesy of www.louchecker.com

The old Dog stepped out onto the track at Geraldton, in a race for the first time in over a year. Lugging his 64kg, he jumped really well then settled back towards to rear as the sprinters let rip in front. At the 600m he was at the tail of the field as they picked up pace again. As they rounded the bend the old boy was trying hard but he was no match for the eventual winner (Surprise Impact). It was an ok run, but nothing to write home about, finishing 8L away.

Certainly he was about 5L off where he was in his previous campaign 1UP. We're not wiping the old warrior off yet, as it has been a very long road to get him back to here. We'll see how he pulls up after he cools down and the next few days. One thing was good to see...he walked back to the stables free of any limp and tucked straight into his dinner, with young Sonny wandering what the who-haa was all about. All in good time Sonny. All in good time.

Final results here.

In the Press...courtesy of PTT

Geraldton Preview - 21/02
Geoff Whittle
Wed, 20 February, 2008


Perth Turf Talk
Trainer Rhona MacPhilomey with the consistent Bundy Blue
The return to racing of the great local campaign Tapdog will create plenty of interest at Geraldton Turf Club’s meeting on Thursday.

Now a ten-year-old, Tapdog has not raced since sustaining an injury in the 2007 Geraldton Cup. The gelding won that race despite the adversities he encountered and in doing so created local racing history by recording his third win in the Geraldton club’s premier event.

In the 1200 metre Freemasons Hotel Sprint Tapdog has the steadying weight of 64 kilograms and is pitted against several speedy sprinters. He has won two trials in preparation for his return but still has a big assignment.

First start back since the cup - Thu 21st Feb over 1200m

The Dog is making his comeback this Thu Feb 21st in a 1200m spring at Geraldton. It will be his first run since winning his third Geraldton Cup in Jan 2007. It's been a loooong road here, and in the last year he has only been out in the paddock for a few short weeks. All the rest was spent by Clive trying to get to the bottom of the foot injury and the laminitus. Clive has him in good order, after a couple of tidy trials. He has to lump 64kg! The weight is too much over the 1200m against a couple of smart sprinters.

Fields are here.

We hope he runs a solid race and does not get injured....

Woof!

We had another setback after the 1000m trial and Clive had to dig deep into his deep well of expertise. He thinks he has found out how to handle the laminitus, so after getting the Dog back up to fitness he trialed again today at Geraldton. Woof.