MELBOURNE'S champion sprinter Apache Cat all but booked himself another trip to Hong Kong for the international meeting in December after he pounced late to claim yesterday's Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley.
The Greg Eurell trained star gained a rails run in the straight under the guidance of top jockey Damien Oliver to run down stablemate Mic Mac ($6.50) and score by a short neck.
''They made him earn it today,'' Eurell said of Apache Cat [$3.40], which contested the Hong Kong Sprint last year and came in third behind Inspiration.
''It's a big thrill, very rewarding to get him here and winning given he isn't getting any younger. (Age) is starting to catch up with him.''
Apache Cat is now a seven year old but Eurell said he was going ''as good as ever'' and he would miss the pair 1 Patinack Farm Classic to instead head to Hong Kong, where the plan is to run in the International Sprint Trial at Sha Tin on November 22 on the way to a start in the Hong Kong Sprint on December 13.
''The plan is a bit new to us,'' Eurell admitted. ''Last year they didn't have the lead up in Hong Kong open to overseas horses but now it is so I'd say we'd go there. Mic Mac will stay here and go to the Patinack Farm Classic (on November 7 at Flemington) and then he'll go for a spell. He'll be some horse next year.''
Speedster Lucky Secret led early in the Schweppes only to be pressured by the Gai Waterhouse trained Bank Robber ($16), which went to the lead and held on well to finish third.
Eurell said Oliver's ride, when holding his ground behind the lead on the rail and banking on the run coming, was more good management than luck for ''he is one of the best [jockeys] we've seen in Australia, and he'll be the best we'll see in a long time''.
Oliver told Eurell Apache Cat was ''a legend, isn't he'' while adding ''he's a star'' as the Moonee Valley crowd applauded their favourite baldy faced sprinter.
''He is a tough warhorse,'' Eurell said. ''Leading into today he was in very, very good order. And he has come out and defeated a very good field of sprinters. We have to be a bit careful about what we do with these days, there is no hiding the fact that we have to hold him together a bit to get him to the races. But he just keeps coming out and doing it against the best opposition there is on offer.''
The Greg Eurell trained star gained a rails run in the straight under the guidance of top jockey Damien Oliver to run down stablemate Mic Mac ($6.50) and score by a short neck.
''They made him earn it today,'' Eurell said of Apache Cat [$3.40], which contested the Hong Kong Sprint last year and came in third behind Inspiration.
''It's a big thrill, very rewarding to get him here and winning given he isn't getting any younger. (Age) is starting to catch up with him.''
Apache Cat is now a seven year old but Eurell said he was going ''as good as ever'' and he would miss the pair 1 Patinack Farm Classic to instead head to Hong Kong, where the plan is to run in the International Sprint Trial at Sha Tin on November 22 on the way to a start in the Hong Kong Sprint on December 13.
''The plan is a bit new to us,'' Eurell admitted. ''Last year they didn't have the lead up in Hong Kong open to overseas horses but now it is so I'd say we'd go there. Mic Mac will stay here and go to the Patinack Farm Classic (on November 7 at Flemington) and then he'll go for a spell. He'll be some horse next year.''
Speedster Lucky Secret led early in the Schweppes only to be pressured by the Gai Waterhouse trained Bank Robber ($16), which went to the lead and held on well to finish third.
Eurell said Oliver's ride, when holding his ground behind the lead on the rail and banking on the run coming, was more good management than luck for ''he is one of the best [jockeys] we've seen in Australia, and he'll be the best we'll see in a long time''.
Oliver told Eurell Apache Cat was ''a legend, isn't he'' while adding ''he's a star'' as the Moonee Valley crowd applauded their favourite baldy faced sprinter.
''He is a tough warhorse,'' Eurell said. ''Leading into today he was in very, very good order. And he has come out and defeated a very good field of sprinters. We have to be a bit careful about what we do with these days, there is no hiding the fact that we have to hold him together a bit to get him to the races. But he just keeps coming out and doing it against the best opposition there is on offer.''
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