Virus Floors Apollo Greed
Illawarra Mercury
Saturday July 7, 2001
Apollo Greed's scratching from tonight's $50,000 Group One Queensland Derby in Brisbane could prove a blessing in disguise for the pacer's Shoalhaven Heads trainer Chris Robinson.
Robinson's wife, Karen, is nearly a week overdue with the couple's third child, a sibling for livewire pair Leah, 7, and Breeana, 2.
Robinson also has former New Zealand filly Like An Atom engaged in the $10,000 Bankstown Oaks and was finding it difficult deciding how he'd split himself between babysitting, Brisbane and Sydney.
But a virus has at least eased one problem for Robinson, even though he'd have loved to have seen the unlucky Apollo Greed get another crack at recent Harold Park winners, Franco Heir and Daroobalgie.
``We had to scratch him, he's got a bit of a bug," Robinson said yesterday.
``It could be worse, he's all right and is a lot better today.
``He'll be right for another day, he's done too good a job to be worrying too much about it."
Apollo Greed was an unlucky seventh in the NSW Derby behind Franco Heir after locking wheels at a vital stage in the final lap.
The colt then easily won his NSW Sires Stakes heat before again being the victim of interference when a great second to Daroobalgie in the final.
``He did a good job to get that close to them, he had no luck and we were very happy with him," Robinson said.
``We'll poke around up there with him, the Gold Coast Derby is on in about a month and the Australian Derby (Moonee Valley) is on about the same time.
``We'll just see what happens in the next month."
Robinson said his brother, Terry, was now free to drive Like An Atom at Bankstown in a race which included Queensland Oaks runner-up Chip And Gale.
A highly-priced purchase from across the Tasman, Like An Atom disappointed the Robinsons at her first campaign for the stable and didn't show much at Canberra (ninth) when a beaten odds-on (1/2) favourite first up from a spell.
But the filly bounced back with a good second behind Firsthome in her Oaks heat last week after battling for the lead early and giving the winner a perfect trail.
``She went much better the other night and Terry was a lot happier with her," Robinson said.
``She's improved again this week and she'll be hard to beat on Saturday.
``She's changed her attitude.
``There's a little bit of improvement still, but she won't be too far away this week."
© 2001 Illawarra Mercury