Cats blood scare
May 21, 2008 12:00am
RAGING Doomben 10,000 favourite Apache Cat was at the centre of a health scare yesterday, but trainer Greg Eurell is confident the horse will run on Saturday.
A blood sample taken on Monday suggested Apache Cat was not at his best.
But Eurell said yesterday two blood reports since had been much brighter and he had told stewards Apache Cat would be among the final acceptors for the 10,000 (1350m) when they were declared this morning.
The Cranbourne trainer will have another precautionary test taken this week, but is confident Apache Cat will be fit to run.
The first report was so lopsided Eurell feared something was amiss because the horse appeared to be in good health. A veterinary examination yesterday found no signs of a problem.
Earlier, Apache Cat had worked solidly at Canungra in the Gold Coast hinterland.
Speculation about the horse prompted punters to back other 10,000 fancies, including Vormista, Reigning To Win and Murtajill.
Bookmakers reacted to the move by briefly suspending betting on the Group 1 race.
The market reopened after stewards released a clarifying statement, but Apache Cat eased half a point with Darwin Sportsbet to $1.85, and was out to $2 with some agencies.
The gelding was "smoking" in his final workout.
He was made to work along in a gallop with an unnamed companion and drew away under gentle urging as steam billowed from his nostrils.
On a cold morning when the popular chestnut needed three rugs to keep warm in his paddock, Apache Cat looked better than ever.
"He loves it here. You can really see he looks forward to everything he does," assistant trainer John Baker said.
"He probably does not do as much work as normal horses, but he does plenty of long work and he just needed something to make him work along.
"That was just what he wanted. He had something to chase and then run away from."
Eurell will fly to Brisbane on Saturday to saddle the gelding, who is chasing his fifth successive Group 1 this year.
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