Racing: Victory adds to celebrations

Atapi gave Waikato trainer Richard Otto double cause for celebration when the 3-year-old won the Tatt's Open Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm in Brisbane at the weekend.

Otto and his wife, Natasha, welcomed their second child Olivia into the world on Thursday and while the birth prevented Otto travelling to Brisbane for Saturday's race, he was happy to stay home and watch it on television.

"Everyone is well," he said yesterday, confirming he had found time for a quiet celebratory drink.

Otto thinks a lot of Atapi, who charged home from the rear of the field to win the A$100,000 ($110,500) race. He said Atapi was erratic as a youngster, but after being gelded at Christmas there had been a change of attitude.

"He's still growing and learning, but he is going from strength to strength," Otto said.

Atapi, by Last Tycoon, is being looked after by Queensland trainer Shaun Dwyer while Otto is back at his Te Awamutu base.

"I haven't been back there [Brisbane] for a couple of weeks, but he was well when I left and Shaun said he had just thrived in the last two weeks," Otto said.

Atapi will race in the Sunshine Coast Guineas next weekend before spelling in Queensland for the following two months.

Otto will chase a group one race in New Zealand in the summer with Atapi, probably kicking off in the Railway Stakes, with the Thorndon Mile and Waikato Sprint other targets.

"At the end of that I think he could develop into a real Doncaster horse."

Atapi, who on Saturday started at $13, edged out Spirit Of Tara by a short neck, with fellow New Zealand-trained Dezigna a short-half away third.

The Wayne Hillis-trained Dezigna, for the second start in a row, looked to have a good race won only to be denied in the shadows of the post.

Atapi gave jockey Anthony Merritt the biggest win of his career. He gained the ride after winning a recent double on the Gold Coast for Dwyer.

Meanwhile, Levin horse Empyreal finished second to Sky Love in the group three Tattersall's Cup (2236m), only to be relegated to third for causing interference to Forest Jim, who was promoted to second.

Of the other New Zealanders in the race, Grace And Favour boxed on well for fourth, Desert Flight was seventh, Prince Of Toffs eighth and From Heaven 12th.

The Stephen Marsh-trained Thee Auld Hussie was second to Admiral Spy in the day's last race at Eagle Farm.

- NZPA