Racing: Playboy in good nick after last start scare

Christine McCormick can only pray that her ticker is under more stress than Te Atatu Playboy's during the Sponsors Thames Cup tomorrow.

Her rejuvenated seven-year-old blotted this season's impressive formline when a heart fibrillation flared during his last start in the Kings Plate on Boxing Day.

Rider Vinny Colgan, who has the mount again tomorrow, had no choice but to pull a distressed Te Atatu Playboy up well before the post at Ellerslie.

Half an hour later, however, his Huntly trainer said it was like Te Atatu Playboy had not even raced.

"It was a bit of a scare at the time but it's just one those things that can flare up," said McCormick.

"He's never had anything like that happen before. I gave him three days off and he's been working a treat.

"I gave him a hard gallop on Tuesday and he came through that brilliantly - he was pulling his head off this morning [Thursday]."

History suggests Te Atatu Playboy can bounce back from the heart irregularity tomorrow.

Lordship won last year's Taumarunui Cup fresh from the same mishap over 1600m.

His wide alley - 15 - doesn't help Te Atatu Playboy's cause.

But McCormick is confident he has the gate speed for Colgan to take a handy position near the speed before the first bend.

On his form before the Kings Plate scare, the versatile Te Atatu Playboy has to be tough to beat.

He pushed Asgoodas to three-quarters of a length over 2100m at Te Rapa on November 6.

Then three starts later he had Travelin Man at full stretch to beat him over 1400m on the same course.

Te Atatu Playboy was an unlucky fourth on the same track over 1600m a week later.

"I'm just reaping the benefits from the work Linda Ballantyne did with him in his last preparation," said McCormick.

"Linda's done a brilliant job getting him to settle.

"I was having a hell of a time because he did most of his work on the farm and only went to the track to gallop.

"Linda and his track rider Damon Anaki are the ones who deserve most of the credit."

Te Atatu Playboy's pattern of racing near the speed should suit the tight Thames track and he looks well placed at the weights, just 1kg above the minimum.

McCormick said the Thames Cup had always been on Te Atatu Playboy's programme.

But she and Anaki are also keen to freshen him after tomorrow's test for another shot at weight-for-age, in the Waikato Draught Sprint (1400m) at Te Rapa on February 12.

"To be honest I'm not really sure what his best distance is," said McCormick.

"I'd like to think he would be better over more ground but he still seems to be better over 1400m and 1600m.

"Whatever the distance, the race has got to be run his way. He's got to be up on the pace and you can't fight him. Once you do, forget it, you've lost him."

Te Atatu Playboy was rated a $10 third favourite on the TAB's fixed odds market yesterday, with King of Jacks at $5 and last year's winner Hoopla the $3 early favourite.

Cambridge trainer Ralph Manning said Hoopla had trained on the right way since his brave last-start win at Tauranga over 1600m on December 29.

Heart throb

* Te Atatu Playboy was pulled up distressed at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.

* He apparently had something wrong with his heart.

* He has shown no further signs of trouble.

* Te Atatu Playboy should bounce back in the Thames Cup tomorrow.