Top Cat and tails
May 11th 2008 06:27
Last week in racing:
Apache Cat continues to build on his reputation as one of our best sprinters in a time when Australia is producing sprinters of equal calibre to the very best anywhere in the world. His recent victories over Takeover Target and Magnus are indicative of his likely success when he finally travels overseas. The trip to Japan looms later this year, and perhaps even a step further to Hong Kong for a feature race in December. But I am looking forward to seeing his distinctive splash of painted head first past the post in England, emulating the deeds of Choisir, Takeover Target and Miss Andretti.
The only attraction I would have to seeing him continue to race specifically in Australia (he really is a horse we should share with other racing enthusiasts now) would be a series of races against Weekend Hussler. Or better still, if we could have a series of two races, the first over 1000 metres and then followed by a 1200 metre event, which would include Weekend Hussler, Apache Cat, Miss Andretti and Takeover Target. That is the invitation. I would leave it at that. It incorporates the very best with records to warrant inclusion, plus a spread of ages and (thankfully Miss A) represented by both genders.
Apache Cat has yet to race against Weekend Hussler. That in itself would be most appealing. If not the quartet, then a match race at 1200m between Apache Cat and Weekend Hussler would have significant interest. But the foundation of my reasoning behind Weekend Hussler being the third best horse in the world is evident in the fact of Weekend Hussler's dominance at a mile (really his dominance through all tested distances). The best chance for Apache Cat to beat him would be (perhaps) at 1200 metres.
Apache Cat narrowly won the BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben in Queensland on Saturday. He has now put together a 'Weekend Hussler like' string of four consecutive Group One wins. This was a narrow victory over promising Adelaide mare Vormista who came with him when he charged at the leaders in the straight, and she just failed to catch him. It may have been a case of Apache Cat travelling too well in running and being restrained and hindered by the tempo. Although the leaders were travelling fast, I think he would have preferred the tempo even faster.
Sometimes it takes time to work out what suits a horse best. This time in Apache Cat has come off a spell of nearly five months and (with one barrier trial of 800 metres when second to Coniston Gem) won his only four starts, beginning at 1000 metres (the Lightning Stakes at Flemington); 1200 metres (the Australia stakes at Moonee Valley); and subsequently the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick and the BTC Cup at Doomben, both over 1200 metres.
His race distance progression is: 1000m; 1200m; 1200m;1200m.
If we go back through previous campaigns we find a starkly different pattern:
Even his first preparation saw him first up over 1000m before jumping to 1400m and finally to 1620m.
In fact in each campaign he has quickly jumped to 1400m second up (apart from one campaign when he went to 1200m second up) before stretching out to runs over 1600m (and even in the Spring of 2006 two runs beyond 1600m at 2000m and 2040m. But never again those trips).
Often there is the temptation with a horse to stretch the resources and discover what can be achieved at the limits (of ability and endurance). But now we have Apache Cat the sprinter. Apache Cat who can maintain a winning sequence of quality events that are conducted within the bounds of his physical peak. He will have his fifth and final run this campaign in the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350 metres) in a fortnight and then spell before campaigning overseas. The extra distance looks ideal for his final run of a campaign with him fully fit and probably ready to appreciate slightly more ground. To my mind the perfect campaign of five starts within optimum distance range for success. That should be the template used now for his future.
And this week we bookend with the update to a story from last week about Not A Copy. At his fifteenth start of a long and successful campaign he won with a nose to spare over Wrencher in an 1100 metre race at Caulfield on Saturday. Only his second win of the campaign, and these victories have come at starts thirteen and fifteen. I wonder if we wait until he puts in a poor performance before pulling the pin on this campaign? He must be thriving and happy in his role as racehorse. Or do we make him take a holiday regardless? I'll be interested to see what happens next.
The Sydney spotlight was on Hawkesbury this weekend. The very promising Anabaa filly Sung was most impressive with another strong finishing burst. She looks to have a bright future. She is a sister to the durable and multiple Group One winning performer Yell. It has taken a time before Woodland Stud returned the mare Vocalist to Anabaa after visiting other stallions with less impressive results. This filly looks set to repeat the success of her brother.
Apache Cat continues to build on his reputation as one of our best sprinters in a time when Australia is producing sprinters of equal calibre to the very best anywhere in the world. His recent victories over Takeover Target and Magnus are indicative of his likely success when he finally travels overseas. The trip to Japan looms later this year, and perhaps even a step further to Hong Kong for a feature race in December. But I am looking forward to seeing his distinctive splash of painted head first past the post in England, emulating the deeds of Choisir, Takeover Target and Miss Andretti.
Takeover Target winning in Japan
The only attraction I would have to seeing him continue to race specifically in Australia (he really is a horse we should share with other racing enthusiasts now) would be a series of races against Weekend Hussler. Or better still, if we could have a series of two races, the first over 1000 metres and then followed by a 1200 metre event, which would include Weekend Hussler, Apache Cat, Miss Andretti and Takeover Target. That is the invitation. I would leave it at that. It incorporates the very best with records to warrant inclusion, plus a spread of ages and (thankfully Miss A) represented by both genders.
Apache Cat has yet to race against Weekend Hussler. That in itself would be most appealing. If not the quartet, then a match race at 1200m between Apache Cat and Weekend Hussler would have significant interest. But the foundation of my reasoning behind Weekend Hussler being the third best horse in the world is evident in the fact of Weekend Hussler's dominance at a mile (really his dominance through all tested distances). The best chance for Apache Cat to beat him would be (perhaps) at 1200 metres.
Apache Cat narrowly won the BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben in Queensland on Saturday. He has now put together a 'Weekend Hussler like' string of four consecutive Group One wins. This was a narrow victory over promising Adelaide mare Vormista who came with him when he charged at the leaders in the straight, and she just failed to catch him. It may have been a case of Apache Cat travelling too well in running and being restrained and hindered by the tempo. Although the leaders were travelling fast, I think he would have preferred the tempo even faster.
Sometimes it takes time to work out what suits a horse best. This time in Apache Cat has come off a spell of nearly five months and (with one barrier trial of 800 metres when second to Coniston Gem) won his only four starts, beginning at 1000 metres (the Lightning Stakes at Flemington); 1200 metres (the Australia stakes at Moonee Valley); and subsequently the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick and the BTC Cup at Doomben, both over 1200 metres.
His race distance progression is: 1000m; 1200m; 1200m;1200m.
If we go back through previous campaigns we find a starkly different pattern:
Even his first preparation saw him first up over 1000m before jumping to 1400m and finally to 1620m.
In fact in each campaign he has quickly jumped to 1400m second up (apart from one campaign when he went to 1200m second up) before stretching out to runs over 1600m (and even in the Spring of 2006 two runs beyond 1600m at 2000m and 2040m. But never again those trips).
Often there is the temptation with a horse to stretch the resources and discover what can be achieved at the limits (of ability and endurance). But now we have Apache Cat the sprinter. Apache Cat who can maintain a winning sequence of quality events that are conducted within the bounds of his physical peak. He will have his fifth and final run this campaign in the Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350 metres) in a fortnight and then spell before campaigning overseas. The extra distance looks ideal for his final run of a campaign with him fully fit and probably ready to appreciate slightly more ground. To my mind the perfect campaign of five starts within optimum distance range for success. That should be the template used now for his future.
And this week we bookend with the update to a story from last week about Not A Copy. At his fifteenth start of a long and successful campaign he won with a nose to spare over Wrencher in an 1100 metre race at Caulfield on Saturday. Only his second win of the campaign, and these victories have come at starts thirteen and fifteen. I wonder if we wait until he puts in a poor performance before pulling the pin on this campaign? He must be thriving and happy in his role as racehorse. Or do we make him take a holiday regardless? I'll be interested to see what happens next.
The Sydney spotlight was on Hawkesbury this weekend. The very promising Anabaa filly Sung was most impressive with another strong finishing burst. She looks to have a bright future. She is a sister to the durable and multiple Group One winning performer Yell. It has taken a time before Woodland Stud returned the mare Vocalist to Anabaa after visiting other stallions with less impressive results. This filly looks set to repeat the success of her brother.
| 44 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
