Crab Pot offers much more than a quirky name

By Josh Spasaro

Crab Pot was named after a ‘man cave’ on top veteran trainer Tony Apap’s 112-acre Gatton property.

And, while these rooms are widely celebrated in Australian culture - known as places of fun and refuge away from the stresses and demands of everyday life - the three-year-old is also a seriously talented chaser.

He will start from box eight in the $18,780 Easter Trophy Final over 520 metres at Q2 Parklands on Thursday night.

The black dog produced the fastest heat time last week, crossing the line in 29.70 seconds.

“Everyone asks me how he got his name, Crab Pot. He’s owned by my daughter, Nina,” Apap said.

“And, my son-in-law, Garry, has a shed up the back. All the boys sit in there and drink.

“It’s like a man cave up the back. All the neighbours are about the same age as him.

“There are about eight to 10 of them in there. They get in there and they can’t get out, so they call it the crab pot.”

Crab Pot has recorded 10 wins from 35 starts for over $68,000 in prizemoney, so there is no question regarding how talented he is.

He’s also tough, overcoming a series of injuries.

“He’s an amazing dog,” Apap said.

“To come back from all of that – he’s won about five races since. He just knows how to chase.

“Of course, it’s going to be a harder race this week. But, he’s just a chaser. He’s got to get a little bit of luck from that wide draw.”

Despite saying he will need some good fortune, Apap does not mind Crab Pot drawing the pink lane this week after his classy heat win last Thursday night.

That was when he showed patience to go through his gears, finding the lead before the final turn, then comfortably breaking away from his opponents on the home straight.

“He uses his brains out wide until he can get clear. But, he’s probably better there than boxes four and five, anyway,” Apap said.

“If he can just get a little bit of luck and get around the first corner unscathed, he’ll be hard to beat.”

Winning his Easter Trophy heat by two-and-a-half lengths and crossing the line in 29.70 seconds was not a one-off from Crab Pot last week.

He was a dominant victor over 520 metres at Q2 Parklands on January 11, crossing the line in 29.68 seconds.

“He’s ran that time before. He’s full-on. He’s one of those dogs where everything is 100 miles an hour,” Apap said.

“He’s just a trier. I always like to see him win because of what he’s gone through.”

By Aussie Infrared, Crab Pot is out of prolific brood bitch, Sequana.

Apap was happy to go back to Sequana. Kennelmate Cheers For Bella is also a strong performer, who is by Fernando Bale and out of the same dam.

The four-year-old bitch has 17 wins from 67 starts for over $146,000 in prizemoney.

“I’ve got Cheers For Bella from her first litter by Fernando Bale,” Apap said.

“The first and second litters were good and the third litter is looking even better. She’s been a real good producer. We’ve bought a few pups out of her.”