Swettenham Stud

Hold That Tiger gelding Apprehend registered his second win from his last three starts by winning the $90,000 Comedy King Handicap (2520m) at Flemington this afternoon.

Returning to Flemington just over a fortnight after his gallant second in the Listed Bagot Handicap (2800m) behind Atlantic Air, Apprehend was just as tenacious this afternoon with a gritty on-pace victory.

Apprehend ($4.60-$5.50-$4.80 fav) defeated Grand Destiny ($4.20-$5.50) by a length and a quarter, with early leader Olympic Win ($5.50-$7.50) boxing on bravely to hold down third a similar margin away.

The Luke Oliver-trained Diamondsoninside ($5-$6) made ground for fourth while Arclace ($61-$101) finished fifth.

Jockey Mark Zahra, who was replacing Damien Oliver, piloted the four-year-old gelding to perfection according to his Caulfield-based trainer, Tony Vasil.

“He had no favours going down to the post and out of the straight the first time and it was through no fault of Mark (Zahra), it just unfolded that way,” Vasil said.

“He had to sit there and wait for things to sort themselves out - and it didn’t really do that - so he took the initiative to roll forward and move up to second spot which was clearly the decisive winning move at that point.”

Apprehend last spent time in the spelling paddock back in March and has endured a lengthy nine month preparation. However the son of Swettenham Stud sire Hold That Tiger is showing no ill-effects.

“He faced the breeze all the way and that’s his 19th run this time in – he’s an iron horse,” Vasil said.

“I keep saying to the owners that I keep getting reluctant to even enter and accept with him because I think the RSPCA will come down on me.

“If he puts on a poor one, I’ll look like a mug.

“We space his runs, he does a lot of work in the swimming pool and water treadmill and the above ground treadmill, he’s not just ploughing around the track all the time.

“They don’t earn money in the paddock – he’s nearly earned $300,000 now.”

“He’s just an exceptional horse. He’s not the best horse I’ve ever trained but he’s probably the toughest,” he added.

Vasil would not rule out Apprehend crossing the Bass Strait to tackle the Launceston Cup (2400m) in February.

“I don’t he is a Hobart Cup horse, I don’t think Hobart and 2200m is his cup of tea and he’s probably more of a Launceston Cup horse”

Apprehend has raced in Tasmania previously.

Vasil sent the galloper as a two-year-old to contest the Listed Gold Sovereign Stakes (1200m) at Launceston (Mowbray) at only his third start where it finished second behind Testamarriage.

By Hold That Tiger out of Touching Wood mare Regal Touch, Apprehend is a half-brother to Trigger Finger who since winning her first two starts at Bendigo and Benalla under the care of Jamie Edwards, has failed to win at her next 11 outings and is now trained by Tommy Wong.

Picture: Quentin Lang