Haradasun and Apache Cat Resume RIvalry
Story By Chris Scholtz
Monday, 30 July 2007: Classy Group One winner Apache Cat looms as the serious rival for the $50 million stallion Haradasun in Saturday's $100,000 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.
The presence of Haradasun and Apache Cat has left a thin entry list for the Bletchigngly, Melbourne's fist weight-for-age race of the new season.
The 1200m sprint has attracted only nine entries including last year's winner Minson but a notable omission is Caulfield Guineas winner Wonderful World.
Trainer Bart Cummings has changed his plans with Wonderful World, who was set to go south for the Bletchingly after he won a barrier trial at Randwick last week.
Cummings will now give the rising four-year-old another barrier trial in Sydney before he sends him to Melbourne where his first-up target will be the Vain Stakes at Caulfield on August 18.
Minson is also not a certain starter as his new trainer David hayes has also entered him for the open handicap over 1100m on Saturday's Caulfield program.
The other Bletchingly Stakes entries include several contenders for the big spring staying races including Melbourne Cup placegetter Maybe Better, Adelaide and Sydney Cups winner Gallic and his stablemate Zipping.
Haradasun holds a 2-0 scoreline over Apache Cat after they met twice in Sydney in the autumn in the George Ryder Stakes and the Doncaster Handicap.
Haradasun won both races but held a decisive weight advantage over the older Apache Cat, who finished third in the George Ryder and fifth in the Doncaster.
Sydney's opening Group race of the season, the $100,000 Missile Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, has drawn 17 entries.
Group One winners Fashions Afield (Blake Shinn) and Queensland mare La Montagna (Jay Ford) head up the entries.
Other Queensland entries include Dance The Waves (Nash Rawiller), Devil Inside and Sequallan.
Local sprinters entered for the Missile include Century Serb, Posadas, Real Strike and the promising pair German Chocolate and November Flight.
Photo (.... awwww)
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