Jockey Steven Arnold isn't running scared of Apache Cat and rates Melbourne sprinter Swick a realistic chance of giving master trainer Bart Cummings his 250th Group One winner in the BTC Cup at Doomben on Saturday.
Arnold, who registered his 13th Group One success aboard the Danny O'Brien-trained Juste Momente in the Robert Sangster Stakes at Morphettville in March, will be thrilled if he can deliver Cummings' his milestone in the 1200-metre weight-for-age feature.
"Bart's a legend in the game and it would be a big thrill to win his 250th Group One," Arnold said.
The 33-year-old heavyweight rider, who started as an apprentice in Alice Springs, believes Apache Cat can't afford to have an off day in the first Group One race of the Brisbane winter carnival.
"We don't meet Apache Cat well at weight-for-age and he's a class horse who looks the winner but you never know what might happen in a big race," Arnold said.
"Away from Apache Cat, Swick looks the next best horse.
"You can't run away from one horse. If Apache Cat has an off day I think Swick is in with a great chance of winning."
Final acceptances will be declared on Wednesday for the BTC Cup with 11 horses still in the mix.
The Apache Cat factor has already frightened off the Pat Duff-trained Heart Of The Citi following his third to Sydney sprinter El Cambio in the Gold Coast Guineas on Saturday.
Arnold, who rated last year's
Sydney Cup 
win aboard Gallic as his most memorable victory, has tasted success at the elite level in Brisbane twice in his career.
His first Group One triumph in Queensland was aboard Undue in the Doomben 10,000 in 2006 before his win aboard the Peter Moody-trained Cinque Cento in last year's Doomben Cup.
Arnold rode Swick when the six-year-old was runner-up to Apache Cat in the Group One Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington on February 2.
Swick, who has a great first-up strike rate with three wins and four placings from nine starts, has raced once since the Lightning when fourth to Weekend Hussler in the Group One Newmarket Hcp (1200m) at Flemington on March 8.
In the Lightning, Swick was behind Apache Cat on the home turn and stayed with the baldy-faced sprinter when both made their runs to be beaten a neck.
Swick has settled in well since arriving in Queensland and had an exhibition gallop between races at Doomben last Friday.
Cummings failed to win a Group One race during the Sydney autumn carnival and is sending a powerful team north in his bid to capture his 250th Group One winner.
Promising three-year-old Moatize and stakes winner Viewed spearhead Cummings' team in Brisbane while Stradbroke Handicap nominee Kroner is set to have a barrier trial at Randwick on Friday.
Moatize, second to Rockwood in Saturday's Frank Packer Plate at Randwick, will be aimed at next month's Queensland Derby which Cummings won last year with Empires Choice.
Japan Trophy winner Viewed will run in the Doomben Cup on Saturday week.
得啖笑, 不過 if Swick 嬴了
就係甘明斯第250場 Group 1 勝利
