Apap kennel enjoying a dream run

By Jordan Gerrans

The kennel of Tony Apap has been firing on all cylinders since the middle of November and the experienced trainer is aiming to strike while the iron is hot at Ipswich on Saturday evening.

The Gatton-based mentor has enjoyed a fruitful time over the Christmas and New Year period which has rolled into 2024.

The top dog man has 12 winners to his name dating back to the 16^th of November last year when Very Handy won the opening race at Albion Park on a Thursday evening program.

That is 12 winners in his last 42 starters.

Apap’s team has been bolstered in recent weeks by the additions of Smart And Classy and Plum Tuckered who both had outstanding records at northern tracks in Queensland before arriving at Gatton.

“It is handy when you get a couple that can gallop,” Apap said when asked about his strong strike rate of late.

“Everyone goes through their good runs and their bad runs. You just have to make the most of it.

“We are having a bit of a good run at the moment but we also have some dogs that can run.”

Former Bundaberg specialist Smart And Classy will carry the team's hopes in the Final of Saturday’s Corporate Dollars Challenge at Ipswich alongside kennel mate Baccarat Boy.

Baccarat Boy finished second in his heat of the 520 metre series.

A total of eight of the Ipswich club’s corporate sponsors have each draw one of the finalists for the race.

The Ipswich finishing post naming rights for the next 12 months will be handed to the sponsor with the winning dog come Saturday evening.

Smart And Classy was previously prepared by David Plummer but the Takura-based conditioner is taking a break from the industry.

As his name suggests, Smart And Classy is a quality racing greyhound and is a joint-holder of the track record around the grass surface at ‘Bundy’ over 460 metres at 25.82 seconds.

Reigning Bundaberg Cup champion Springview Magic has also clocked a 25.82 second dash around Bundaberg.

Since arriving with Apap, the son of Hooked On Scotch has raced well around Albion Park but he went bang at his first look of the Ipswich surface on Saturday evening in his heat of the Corporate Dollars Challenge.

“The dog has always had ability and that shows with his record at Bundaberg,” Apap said.

“He has come back down here and he has not taken to Albion Park as well as I thought he would.

“We thought we would try a different track at Ipswich and he had never been out of those boxes over 520 metres there. For him to come and run 30.22 seconds, that is an enormous run.”

Apap has trained dogs before for the connections of Smart And Classy which led to him picking up the 11-time Bundaberg winner for his South East Queensland stint.

Smart And Classy has come up with the three for the Final – the alley he won from in the heat – while kennel mate Baccarat Boy contends with the five starting position.

“He has got plenty of ability as well,” Apap said of Baccarat Boy.

“He has come up with the five which will make it hard for him. I thought I would give him a couple of 520 metres before we step him up to 600 metres again as that is more his pet distance.”

Apap has his eyes on the Gerard Bowe-prepared Narkunda who has drawn the red rag for the decider.

Narkunda finished a tick over seven lengths ahead of Baccarat Boy in their heat and the veteran mentor is hopeful Smart And Classy can find a position behind Bowe’s likely leader.

“Hopefully he can get a sit behind him and he ran a very, very strong run home time last Saturday,” Apap said.

Before the Apap team gets to the Corporate Dollars Challenge on Saturday night, they have another task with former Townsville chaser Plum Tuckered aiming for her eighth straight win  on Thursday night's city program.

Formerly trained by Danny Preh, Plum Tuckered's owners were keen for her to race on in Brisbane and she was transferred to Apap after she brilliantly won the Country Cup at Albion Park two runs back on February 1.

She opened her account for Apap at Albion Park last Thursday when she led throughout to win again.

Apap says Plum Tuckered has taken to her new surrounds like a duck to water, declaring nothing worries her at all and it is like she has been with him forever.