Apache Cat Now Ready To Prove Himself A World-beater
The Sunday Age
Sunday April 27, 2008
APACHE Cat was last night being hailed as Australia's latest sprint star with the horse now set to take on the world later this year after beating a gallant Takeover Target at Randwick yesterday to complete a hat-trick of group 1 wins.
The popular five-year-old, whose strange markings have attracted his own fan club, is likely to go to Japan in September for two group 1 sprints. But his overseas venture may not finish there.Trainer Greg Eurell said he would also consider the Hong Kong Sprint in December before taking him to England next winter for the group 1 sprints."I think he'll be competitive anywhere in the world," Eurell said."We wanted to clear a few things up before we took any international trips and today he ran on a soft track, going right-handed, so there were plenty of positives to take out of this run and enough to tick all the boxes to go to Japan." The group 1 Sprinters Stakes (1200 metres) at Nakayama in October is one of the races Eurell has pencilled in for Apache Cat. "There's some nice races in Japan for him and we might even go to Hong Kong for some sprint races around December," Eurell said. The Cranbourne trainer said Apache Cat would not race in England this year but it could be on the cards next year. Timing in racing is everything and emerging trainer Chris Waller yesterday found the best time and place possible to claim his first group 1 winner. His three-year-old Triple Honour won Australia's most famous 1600-metre race, the Doncaster Handicap, to complete a dream week for Waller. Last week, Bob Ingham spent $18.1 million on 24 yearlings at the Sydney Select Sale and they are all Waller's to prepare. He is the new trainer for the Ingham family following the sale of its current stock and properties to Sheikh Mohammed's Darley Australia last month."It's unbelievable that this could happen," Waller said after Triple Honour held off a late charge from Casino Prince. "This is the confidence boost I really needed with the big job I've got in front of me."Waller, 34, arrived from New Zealand seven years ago with just three or four horses and now trains about 50. Before a crowd of 34,850 at Randwick, Glen Boss yesterday grabbed his fifth victory in the Doncaster Handicap when he dashed the three-year-old clear inside the final 200 metres as his main danger, Casino Prince, was still checking off heels.On the line, the $7.50 chance had a half-neck advantage over Casino Prince ($7.50) with 1 1/4 lengths to Victorian horse Pinnacles ($61). Stewards outed Zac Purton for seven meetings for shifting ground on My Sweet Cookie in the AJC Derby and Larry Cassidy was suspended for eight meetings for causing interference on Steel Giant.Victorian jockey Mark Zahra was outed for causing interference on Eskimo Queen in the Doncaster Handicap, and will not resume riding until May 17.Sebring confirmed his rating as the season's top two-year-old when he made it five wins from five starts in the AJC Sires' Produce Stakes. He will now try to become the first horse since Dance Hero in 2004 to win Sydney's juvenile triple crown in Saturday's Champagne Stakes.The Kiwis dominated yesterday's AJC Derby with Nom Du Jeu beating Red Ruler. Victorian Littorio finished third. -- With AAP
© 2008 The Sunday Age
