Glamour sprinter Apache Cat has arrived safely in Queensland following an unscheduled lengthy float trip from Sydney for his two Group One missions, the BTC Cup and Doomben 10,000.
Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell said Apache Cat was forced to travel an extra four hours on the road before arriving around 7.00am (AEST) at his Canungra base at Wadham Park in the Gold Coast hinterland.
"He left the stables yesterday evening and I was told by the float company that it would be a direct trip," Eurell said.
"But it turned out to be a milk run and the float made a couple of drop-offs and pick-ups along the way which added about four hours to the journey.
"I was told the trip would take 10 hours but he was on the float for 14 hours before he finally got there."
Eurell was relieved Apache Cat had taken no harm from the extended trip and plans to give the five-year-old light exercise at Wadham Park on Thursday before stepping up his workload for the weight-for-age BTC Cup (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday week.
The BTC Cup attracted 11 runners when first acceptances closed on Wednesday.
Apache Cat is the first horse Eurell has sent to Queensland since he started training 20 years ago.
"I've never had a runner in Queensland and I've only been there a few times when I did showjumping," he said.
Eurell is likely to spell Apache Cat during the warmer Queensland winter months after he has his final run this preparation in the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on May 24.
"Corey Brown will go up to ride him in the BTC Cup and 10,000. The Stradbroke is in the mix but only if something goes wrong and he missed one of the weight-for-age races," he said.
"At this stage he's only running in the two weight-for-age races.
"I might rest him for a month up there in the warmer climate after the 10,000 before we bring him back home and sort out his next campaign."
After the two big Brisbane sprints, Apache Cat will embark on a world tour but he could still be part of the Melbourne spring carnival.
The Group One Sprinters Stakes (1200 metres) in Japan in October is one race Eurell has pencilled in for Apache Cat.
"When he gets back from Queensland we'll have to work out his overseas campaign," Eurell said.
"If he goes to Japan he won't run in Melbourne during the spring but if he goes to Hong Kong first then he'll probably run in the Age Classic.
"He won't go to England this year but it's possible he may go there next year."
Apache Cat collected his third Group One win this season in last Saturday's TJ Smith (1200m) at Randwick, adding to his previous wins at the elite level in the Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington and Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley in February.作者:
S.WEEK 時間: 30/4/2008 10:33 PM
