Cat Attack!
February 14th 2009 06:17
Apache Cat proved to all and sundry today that he is one of the nation's best sprinters when winning in devastating fashion the Group One Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. The lingering doubts that followed his failures at Flemington (down the straight track) are now nothing other than indications of obvious preferences. Some horses don't handle heavy tracks; others fail to handle firm. And some horses just do not perform down a straight track.
(photo: Jono Searle)
Damien Oliver was at his best today and was tactically brilliant, forcing Brad Rawiller to sit four horses wide, knowing that he would be fearful of sitting back with cover for fear of finding himself in a pocket (again). But it was obvious well before the home turn when Apache Cat surged up to claim the leaders that he would not be caught. There would be no challenge forthcoming.
Weekend Hussler was grinding away out deep and not really exploding off the camber of the Moonee Valley turn. I still hold hopes that Weekend Hussler will return to his brilliant best when out to one mile – today he was just not The Hussler.
Apache Cat has speedfigures that would suggest him capable of wining a sprint (1200m to 1400m race – if only there were international feature races at his preferred trip of 1300m) anywhere in the world.
This win took the 6 year old Lion Cavern gelding's earnings past $3.85 million. And the victory a reminder as to why he is the reigning Sprinter of the Year.
Interviewed straight after the race trainer of Apache Cat, Greg Eurell was full of praise for his popular sprinter:
"Unbelievable. It's a wonderful feeling to watch him do what he did today. It's a sensational feeling."
“He's copped a lot of flak over the last fortnight, the poor horse, but the best way to silence the critics is to win.
“He's bounced back over a more suitable distance and we're away again.”
But there is a problem that I can foretell. It makes the obvious plans fraught with some doubt:
Royal Ascot of 2009 calls. But the sprints are run down the straight track at Ascot.
Perhaps then the Cat will stay home again and plunder the Queensland Winter Carnival - or perhaps Japan and the Global Sprint Challenge? Perhaps Singapore? Or might an invitation to run at Royal Ascot prove too difficult to refuse?
Australia Stakes Group One 1200m $400,000 Moonee Valley
1 APACHE CAT Damien Oliver Greg Eurell time 1.9.64
2 Vormista Stephen Arnold Mark Minervini (beaten 3 lengths)
3 Time Thief Kerrin McEvoy Lee Freedman (beaten 3.3 lengths)
4 Orange County (beaten 3.4 lengths)
5 Weekend Hussler (beaten 3.9 lengths)
Apache Cat (with Corey Brown) after winning the 2008 Doomben 10,000
(photo: Jono Searle)
Damien Oliver was at his best today and was tactically brilliant, forcing Brad Rawiller to sit four horses wide, knowing that he would be fearful of sitting back with cover for fear of finding himself in a pocket (again). But it was obvious well before the home turn when Apache Cat surged up to claim the leaders that he would not be caught. There would be no challenge forthcoming.
Weekend Hussler was grinding away out deep and not really exploding off the camber of the Moonee Valley turn. I still hold hopes that Weekend Hussler will return to his brilliant best when out to one mile – today he was just not The Hussler.
This win took the 6 year old Lion Cavern gelding's earnings past $3.85 million. And the victory a reminder as to why he is the reigning Sprinter of the Year.
Interviewed straight after the race trainer of Apache Cat, Greg Eurell was full of praise for his popular sprinter:
"Unbelievable. It's a wonderful feeling to watch him do what he did today. It's a sensational feeling."
“He's copped a lot of flak over the last fortnight, the poor horse, but the best way to silence the critics is to win.
“He's bounced back over a more suitable distance and we're away again.”
But there is a problem that I can foretell. It makes the obvious plans fraught with some doubt:
Royal Ascot of 2009 calls. But the sprints are run down the straight track at Ascot.
Perhaps then the Cat will stay home again and plunder the Queensland Winter Carnival - or perhaps Japan and the Global Sprint Challenge? Perhaps Singapore? Or might an invitation to run at Royal Ascot prove too difficult to refuse?
Australia Stakes Group One 1200m $400,000 Moonee Valley
1 APACHE CAT Damien Oliver Greg Eurell time 1.9.64
2 Vormista Stephen Arnold Mark Minervini (beaten 3 lengths)
3 Time Thief Kerrin McEvoy Lee Freedman (beaten 3.3 lengths)
4 Orange County (beaten 3.4 lengths)
5 Weekend Hussler (beaten 3.9 lengths)
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