Agapantha pounces on first-up triumph
LIGHTLY raced five-year-old Agapantha got his latest preparation off to a winning start with a strong victory at Clifford Park on Saturday.
Agapantha has had just nine starts since making his track debut at Clifford Park on January 22 last year and has already recorded four wins and four minor placings.
That fourth win came in style on Saturday night when the gelding led most of the trip before posting a three-length triumph in the Hit FM Class 3 Handicap (1050m) for Toowoomba trainer Lindsay Hatch.
Coming back from a five-month spell, Agapantha started a $2.50 favourite and repaid the punters’ faith with apprentice jockey Michael Schrapel on board by saluting the judge ahead of Will To Rule ($5).
Apprentice jockey Nicholas Keal had to settle for second on board Will To Rule but still enjoyed a winning double at Clifford Park as he rode winners for trainers Ben Currie and Troy Pascoe.
Keal piloted Ra Ra Epic ($9) to a half-length victory over $2.70 favourite Trump It in the Furneys Stockfeeds Class 5 Handicap over 1300 metres.
The 3kg claimer followed that win up two races later with victory on board Bred For Luck in the Toowoomba Portable Toilets Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1300m).
Bred For Luck ($1.80fav) came from sixth at the 400-metre mark to beat Westbrook Warrior ($5) for a three-quarter length victory in her sixth start.
Meanwhile, trainer Matt Kropp had to settle for a win in the Gainsborough Lodge Class 1 Handicap (1200m) for males with Smashed It.
Kropp had Dazzle Em Sid run in the Group One Queensland Derby at Doomben but he couldn’t feature in the finish.
Smashed It ($1.40fav) provided some consolation for the Kropp stable with a two-and-a-half length win at Clifford Park.