In Brief
- Scope prevents sale but turns in breeder's favour.
- Filly shows promise.
- Elwick Stakes next mission.
When trainer-breeder Graeme McCulloch sold a Fighting Son yearling at last year’s Tasmanian Magic Millions sale for $50,000 he was elated but that soon turned to despair when the filly failed a scope test that revealed she had an entrapped epiglottis.
The respiratory anomaly meant the purchasers reneged on the sale, so McCulloch took her back to his Grenville Stud at Whitemore and sent her for an operation to hopefully eradicate the problem.
The operation was a success and when it came time to name the filly he came up with Entrapped and in Launceston yesterday she repaid her breeder-owner with a win in a 2YO maiden over 1120m.
But not only did the filly bank the $12,000 winner’s cheque, she also netted her owners, McCulloch and his wife Christine, a $20,000 Tasbred Bonus.
Entrapped showed up on debut when second, beaten a long neck, in Launceston in the first juvenile race of the season towards the end of November.
“We gave her a week or so to recover from her first start and today she did what we expected her to do on debut,” McCulloch said.
“It’s amazing how some things have a way of working out in your favour and I think it is definitely the case with this filly.
These Tasbred bonuses really make a difference – this is the first one I’ve won, and I can’t wait to collect it.
“She was very unlucky at her debut. She missed the start, got squeezed out and ended up four lengths last before getting beaten a head.
“I gave her a nice easy trial at Longford (on Tuesday) and she pulled up well from it and she’s performed well again today.
“I always knew she had ability and it’s nice to get that first win under the belt.”
Entrapped will have her next start in the $100,000 Listed Elwick Stakes over in Launceston on 22 January.
Watch Entrapped win the opening race in Launceston on Friday: