News

Hot Air balloon

17th Dec 2009

Herald Sun - Tony Reed - Thursday, 17 December 2009

TWELVE months ago NSW trainer Kevin Moses found little festive cheer about Atlantic Air when he ran well down the track in the Listed Christmas Cup (2400m) at Rosehill.

After another two starts the gelding was sold off in an Inglis dispersal sale (2009 Sydney Winter Thoroughbred Sale), purchased for just $8500 by Morphettville trainer John Croucher in a move that has proved not only beneficial to the six-year-old but also to his connections who have now pocketed over $42,000 in prizemoney in seven starts since coming to SA.

The trainer explained that he had been keen to buy the gelding but the $25,000 price tag from Atlantic Air's owner and breeder (Tobermory Stud) was too much.

"My son Simon put in an offer of $22,000 and it was knocked back then later he was one of three we had our eye on in a sale; we missed the first two because they were too dear and Inglis rang to ask if we wanted to put in a bid for Atlantic Air," he said.

"I asked what he looked like and was told he was woolly and had a beard, then questioned him about the horse's leg and he thought they were fine. Eventually he was knocked down to us for $8500."

The front-running gelding brought up his second local win in succession in last weekend's Yalumba Handicap (2500m) at racing headquarters, leading the way before bursting clear on straightening to score an impressive 2 1/4-length victory.

Croucher is now hoping Atlantic Air can give his owners and the stable a New Year worth celebrating when he has another attempt at Black Type in the $100,000 Bagot Handicap over 2800m at Flemington on January 1.

However, the trainer has thoughts of a bigger goal in the back of his mind with the promising gelding having a possible tilt at SA's premier staying test the 3200m $300,000 Adelaide Cup in early March.

"It's a long-term aim but if he fails in the Bagot he just comes back here for restricted races and if starts to get up in the weights then we could be making more trips to Melbourne," Croucher said.

"If he does run well in the Bagot then he's likely to have a freshen up of a week to 10 days in the paddock before being prepared for the Cup."