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Originally Posted by magic_idol
HaHaHa
Danielle Ellett is Gregs Umm how should i say this She's His Bed Warmer, She gets all of gregs good horses dosnt matter who the track worker is if its any good it goes to Danni, Ahh must be good to be the boss  |
Always a pleasure hearing some behind-the-scenes info.
Our boy gets more press.....
Bandit chasing more big scalps
By Ray Thomas
August 17, 2007 APACHE Cat, the baldy-faced chestnut with the reputation as a giant-killer, is the racehorse the public love and critics continually underrate.
On the eve of the star-studded Group II $200,000 Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield tomorrow, it's the same, old story. The talk is of others, not Apache Cat.
There's the horse they call the "new Northerly", Marasco. The mystery imported galloper, Blue Monday, who has been compared favourably with former champion Almaarad, and Melbourne's established weight-for-age star, Pompeii Ruler.
Throw in the Cups hopeful Maybe Better and Lee Freedman's Group I winner Sphenophyta. It doesn't leave much room for talk of Apache Cat.
His trainer Greg Eurell, a former Olympic equestrian competitor with a fascinating story of his own to tell, admits he has come to accept the lack of media attention given his horse.
"He does seem to slip under the radar a little," Eurell said.
"The owners and I were talking about it just the other day but we understand why it happens.
"When you get a horse like Haradasun, for example, who was sold for the sort of money that has been mentioned in the papers, then it's just natural all the hype goes with that horse.
"But we are happy to just keep poking along and winning our shares of races with Apache Cat.
"When you look back over his career, he's run in some very good races and beaten some very handy horses."
Some of Apache Cat's high-profile scalps include Racing To Win, God's Own and most recently Haradasun. The critics, form experts and media (this writer included) may soon have to start affording Apache Cat the recognition he deserves - particularly if he wins the Liston - but it's apparent that racing enthusiasts nationwide already do.
"He's a very popular horse with the public, he's got a bit of a fan club out there," Eurell said.
"We get a lot of cards, emails and letters from people all over the country wanting to know more about Apache Cat. His youngest fan is a four-year-old here in Victoria and his oldest is an 84-year-old woman from North Queensland.
"No doubt it is because of his unusual markings but fortunately he has the ability to complement his looks."
The liberal splashings of white on Apache Cat's face and each of his legs seem even more pronounced against his gleaming chestnut coat and make him the most conspicuous galloper in training.
But beauty is in the eye of the beholder. As a two-year-old horse, Apache Cat's owners fielded a substantial offer from Hong Kong interests to buy the horse.
Apache Cat had passed all the mandatory veterinary tests and the sale was virtually completed when the Hong Kong buyer saw a video of the horse. He was aghast. "Too much white, unlucky," he said. The deal fell through.
Eurell revealed he also did a double-take when first laying eyes on Apache Cat.
But even more concerning for Eurell was Apache Cat's nature. The trainer first thought that the horse was so docile he would be better on the children's pony-club circuit than the rough and tumble of a racetrack.
Those thoughts were shelved permanently as soon as Eurell tested Apache Cat at trackwork. "He could gallop, that's for sure," the trainer said.
Apache Cat seems to make a habit of defying expert opinion. Given his modest bloodlines, he would not be out of place in a bush maiden. His sire was the ill-fated Lion Cavern who did not throw anything of note at stud - with the obvious exception of Apache Cat - before he died of colic.
The horse's dam, Tennessee Blaze, was purchased as a potential broodmare for a mere $6000.
Still, Apache Cat has now won 10 of his 23 starts, amassing over $1.6 million prizemoney with the promise of more to come.
Apache Cat also gave Eurell his first Group I win as a trainer when he won the Australian Guineas last year.
It's been some journey for Eurell, who these days trains a team of 40 at Cranbourne including promising three-year-old Shrewd Rhythm, one of the chances in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield tomorrow.
Eurell was only 20 when he became the youngest Equestrian ever to make the Australian Olympic team in 1980. He was denied the opportunity to compete by the boycott of the Moscow Games.
"I was absolutely devastated when we didn't go to Moscow," Eurell said. "I didn't think I'd get another chance."
Eurell was fortunate to gain selection for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the year Carl Lewis emulated Jesse Owens and won four gold medals including the 100m and 200m sprint double.
Australia won gold with Jon Sieben (200m butterfly), Dean Lukin (super-heavyweight weight-lifting), Glynis Nunn (heptathlon) and the men's 4000m pursuit team (cycling) but once again Eurell's Olympic experience was tinged with disappointment.
"Our team had done really well at events in Europe going into the Olympics and we went to Los Angeles thinking we were right in the mix for a medal ," Eurell said.
"Then as the horses walked off the plane in LA, one sprung a shoe and trod on a nail.
"My horse then stepped on a training pole, strained a tendon and was out of the competition. I had to ride my second horse who wasn't quite as seasoned."
Eurell returned home after Los Angeles and decided to give up his Equestrian career to go back to his trade - plumbing.
"I loved equestrian, I got to meet Prince Philip and rode all over Europe. You certainly don't meet those sort of people and travel all over the world by putting a pipe in place," Eurell said.
"But I'd trained very hard for the Olympics over a number of years and wanted to do something different so I went back to plumbing.
"That lasted about a month. I enjoy plumbing but I like working with horses more."