Racing: Otto hopes 'household pet' can do job

Te Awamutu trainer Richard Otto says it's a hard call to say which is the better chance of his two runners in the $1 million Telegraph Handicap at Trentham tomorrow, but on sentiment it's an easy choice.

"Atapi is my favourite. He is the household pet, so it would mean everything if he could win this," said Otto, who also has Attackum in the 1200m sprint.

"Given a firm track and a very fast pace I think both have got very good chances. Potentially, I think Attackum will be a lot better horse but he still does a bit wrong, while Atapi is probably the best he has ever been."

Atapi, now an 8-year-old, has never won a group race, but he has gone close to grabbing a group one. He was second behind Mufhasa, a rival tomorrow, in the Telegraph last year, and was again second, behind Australian A Gold Trail, in the Railway Stakes on New Year's Day.

Otto, who trains in partnership with his brother Chris, says Atapi has been a versatile horse, able to perform at distances as long as 2100m, but been unlucky because of his racing style.

"He has a good turn of foot but he has no early speed and if you do ride him forward, there is no speed in the tank at the end. So he has to be ridden behind and when you do that you have them all in front of you and have to get through them or round them somehow."

Otto thinks there is no doubt there will be a hot pace tomorrow, with A Gold Trail and South Islander Coup Align likely to vie for the lead and that will suit both his horses.

"I don't think the Aussie horse will get as easy this time, I think the first 600m will be pretty phenomenal," Otto said.

A strong early pace will benefit both his runners.

Otto was pleased to get a vote of confidence from group-one-winning Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman, who was on Atapi in Auckland and is returning to Wellington to ride him again tomorrow.

"Atapi's got be a huge chance of running as well as he did in the Railway if not better."

Attackum took a while to recover from his Queensland campaign, but showed a return to his best when winning at Woodville two weeks ago.

"He's taken a while to get in the groove but he seems to be hitting his straps now."

New Zealand's premiership-leading jockey James McDonald will ride Attackum.

Otto said his biggest worry was rain. Trentham was rated a good 2 yesterday, which would be ideal for both his horses, but with showers forecast for today and tomorrow, he is worried.

"Even a dead 5 means we have no chance. Dead 4 is marginal for Atapi."

- NZPA