What do you all think of this?
Apache Cat may not venture beyond 1600m 6 Aug 2007
By Rob Burnet
Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell is seriously thinking of keeping his well-named galloper Apache Cat outside the weight-for-age spring arena once the distances reach over 1600m.
Eurell said on Monday that he as going to have a think about taking the white-blazed five-year-old gelding to another Group I Tattersalls Cox Plate over 2040m of Moonee Valley’s tight turning track.
Last year Apache Cat drew barrier 12 in the race and finished seventh.
“I think that over 200m it is a bit of a stretch for him,” said Eurell, “I think he is better kept to a mile (1600m).”
“All being well we will head to the Liston, and then we will sit down and work out where to go. There is a lot on offer with the Dato Tan, Torrak and Emirates on the last day of the Carnival.
“There is a long way to go and we may give him a little ease up,” he said.
On Saturday Apache Cat, under Michael Rodd, demolished the Group III, Bletchingly Stakes field, including the multi-million dollar sire Haradasun, by 2 1/2L without Rodd moving a muscle.
Apache Cat had the race in safe keeping coming off the turn at the Melbourne Racing Club’s meeting at Caulfield, and went to a lead that was not remotely threatened.
“It is interesting the way he is developing into such a strong horse when fresh,” noted Eurell.
“He seems to enjoy his first up runs so much. Michael said that he pulled himself into the run. It was a very good effort.
“Michael was quite excited about the way the horse went about it,” he added.
Rodd was having his first major day of riding as a freelance jockey after stepping back from ties to prominent Victorian owner Lloyd Williams.
Eurell said that Apache Cat, the winner of $1.6 million after Saturday, had gone back to the stable on Saturday and eaten everything in sight and then went to the track on Monday ‘bouncing around like he had never been around,’
The possible path for Apache Cat would be the $200,000, Group II, WFA JJ Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 18th, $300,000, Group II, WFA Dato Tan Chin Nam (1600m) at Moonee Valley on September 15th, $350,000, Group I, Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 13th and then the $1 million, Group I, Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on November 10th.
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