Mic Mac Gives Eurell Plenty To Consider
The Age
Saturday December 27, 2008
WHILE the prospect of Apache Cat clashing with Australia's champion horse Weekend Hussler at Flemington late next month is mouth-watering enough for trainer Greg Eurell to eagerly look forward to the new year, he found another compelling reason at Caulfield yesterday.
Eurell was in Hong Kong two weeks ago saddling his star Apache Cat to a third placing in the group1 sprint, so he missed the winning run of his little-known three-year-old Mic Mac that week at Caulfield.But yesterday he was on hand to watch Mic Mac make it three runs for three soft wins when he charged away with the opening event."Today, I really liked what I saw," he said. "We've really got to have a look at the good races in the autumn, because that was a good indication that there are better things ahead. He carried some weight (57.5 kilograms) and just let down to the line terrific."Starting a $1.95 favourite after starting his career with easy wins at Sale and Caulfield, Mic Mac chased down leader Kirvinsky ($4.20) to win comfortably by 1 lengths.Eurell said he could not discount aiming the Statue Of Liberty gelding at a race like the group1 Australian Guineas, which was the race that launched Apache Cat's career when he won the Flemington classic in 2006."You've got to think seriously about a race like that," he said. "He really knuckled down to the task and there could be quite a good race in him in the autumn. I said this morning that he'll really be something in six to 12 months."Mic Mac was bred and is raced by a syndicate managed by Maurice Messara, 85, who is the father of Arrowfield Stud principal John.The gelding's win continued a great run of success for his Coolmore Stud-owned sire Statue Of Liberty. The eight-year-old stallion stood three seasons at Coolmore in the Hunter Valley but was relocated to Coolmore's Irish operation in 2007 after he was released from the Eastern Creek Quarantine Centre after the equine influenza outbreak last year.Statue Of Liberty, who is by US super stallion Storm Cat, was a group2 winner in Europe from just seven race starts. He was leased by Coolmore in 2004 to stand at Blue Gum Farm in Victoria's and was this state's champion first-season sire last season.As for Apache Cat, Eurell confirmed he would tackle the group1 $500,000 Lightning Stakes at Flemington on January 31. The six-year-old, who won last season's Lightning Stakes, is due to be released from quarantine at Sandown on January 6, but Eurell said the horse would begin work at Sandown from Monday.Apache Cat will follow his Lightning run with a start in the group1 Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley in February, before Eurell is faced with a decision. He is doing his homework on the dirt track at Nad Al Sheba, where a rich sprint will be held on Dubai World Cup night in March.If he decides to stay at home, the horse is likely to be sent to Sydney for the group1 T.J.Smith Stakes at Randwick in late April before going to Brisbane for the two group1 races he won last season - the BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000.Horse of the year Weekend Hussler will also run first-up in the Lightning Stakes - which is also likely to feature the return of last season's Golden Slipper winner Sebring. The More Than Ready colt, who has won five of his six starts, has had a series of minor injury concerns since his only defeat by Samantha Miss in the Champagne Stakes at Randwick in April.Two-time Caulfield Cup-winning rider John Stocker has died after a long battle with cancer.The 61-year-old rode for 24 years, spending much of his time with the legendary late trainer Colin Hayes. He won the Caulfield Cup twice - on Yangtze in 1964 and on How Now in 1976.He competed in South Africa, Singapore and Malaysia and notched about 1850 race wins.
© 2008 The Age
