The Cat wins by a whisker
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LtoR: Dance the Waves, Swiss Ace, Vormista and Apache Cat fight out the finish (Noel Pascoe photos)
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It was one of the most anticipated races seen on the Queensland Winter Racing Carnival calendar in recent times. Show-stopping Apache Cat had won racegoers hearts with his eye-catching good looks and talent while on his way to making it four straight Group 1 wins.
The signs pointed to Apache Cat, the big chestnut with the baldy face, as the main competition in the Group 1 Jacob’s Creek Sparkling BTC Cup 1200m. He was meant to win starting as the $1.30 favourite. And he did, but only by a whisker.
Things didn’t quiet go to plan for Apache Cat (G5 Lion Cavern USA-Tennessee Blaze) who had to dig deep to find the winning edge. Ridden by Corey Brown, Apache Cat starting winding in the front runners on turning hitting the front only moments from the winning post.
Jockey Damien Oliver, rider of Vormista, nearly spoiled the plan when he drove through a gap between Apache Cat and Swiss Ace (Ken Pope). Apache Cat’s winning margin was a head with a further three quarters of a length between Vormista and Swiss Ace.
“He’s a wonderful horse. Four Group 1’s a great effort,” Apache Cat’s trainer Greg Eurell said after the race.
“Even in the run before he started to pull. The ears went back and you could see him dig deep. He’s just got a very strong will to win this horse. It’s interesting even with the blinkers on he just seems to be able to sense they’re close and he just gives you a bit extra.”
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Lucky for the white face…Apache Cat
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The win took Brown’s Group 1 victories to 25. “Today (May 10) didn’t go as the plan was on paper. I was meant to be sitting outside Swiss Ace who I thought would lead. He was happy to take the sit and I knew that I was going to have to come off his back on a slow speed,” Brown said.
“To my horse’s credit he really dug deep today. He’s won by the barest of margins but it was really a sprint from the top of the straight. Though he was on Swiss Ace’s back he had to dig deep. Oliver was coming to his inside but this horse just knows where the winning post is.”
The win really impressed Brown who admits it will be hard to get him off the horse.
“I used to always say the best sprinter I’d ridden had to be Exceed and Excel but we didn’t get to see his full potential but this horse has just gone number one for me,” Brown said.
“He’s an absolute gentleman, he knows everyone’s watching him but for a jockey he’s a dream ride. He puts himself where you want him, travels extremely well and accelerates when you want him too. So for a jockey, it’s a dream ride.
“Michael (Rodd) obviously took sick with a mystery illness and I was in the right place at the right time. My manager got me onto Apache Cat. I’ve had four rides now, all at Group 1 level.
“What a job. He’s done an amazing job with this horse (Greg Eurell). Full credit to Apache Cat. Well done.”
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Corey Brown knuckles down
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Apache Cat’s owners almost missed out on enjoying the success of his achievements that have earned a nudge under $3Million.
“When he was a two-year-old, he nearly went to Hong Kong, thankfully the fella who wanted to buy him didn’t want him,” Eurell said.
“We were offered $400,000 and we thought that makes sense so we’ll sell,” part-owner Paul Radford added.
The prospective Hong Kong buyers were sent a video but to the owners good fortune they didn’t like what the saw as they considered white as unlucky.
“Thank god for the white blaze,” joked Eurell.
QUEENSLAND Racing web news: Claire Power – May 12
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