Sprinting Stars – Apache Cat

Filed in Horse Racing by on February 12, 2012

If there are two things we learnt during the Turf Heroes series, they are that (1) a surprising number of people seem to like reading about champion thoroughbreds; and (2) Cliff can’t shut up about such horses. With that in mind, Making The Nut is pleased to bring you a ten-part ‘Sprinting Stars’ series, where Cliff Bingham will look back upon the short course specialists who scorched turf at the highest level. Part nine of the series profiles Greg Eurell’s outstanding sprinter/ miler, Apache Cat.

Previous instalments of the Sprinting Stars series:

Part 1: Schillaci

Part 2: Mahogany

Part 3: General Nediym

Part 4: Falvelon

Part 5: Spinning Hill

Part 6: Fastnet Rock

Part 7: Miss Andretti

Part 8: Takeover Target

 

The career

Apache Cat began his career in March 2005 as a late two year-old, winning on debut over 1000 metres at Sandown. He then ran seventh in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes behind Cianara at Flemington, but atoned for this by winning the Listed Gibson Carmichael Stakes at Flemington over the mile. It was a promising start to what would prove to be an outstanding career.

August 2005 saw his three year-old spring campaign commence with a fifth placing to Danerich in the Group 3 McNeil Stakes at Caulfield. Rain affected ground, as well as the step up to 1400 metres, saw him to advantage in the Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude where he held out God’s Own and Danerich to win. This performance would not be repeated in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas though, as he ran seventh to God’s Own before going for a spell. Nonetheless, three wins (two at black type level) from six career starts was nothing to be sneezed at.

Late January 2006 saw him resume with 59.5 kilos down the straight at Flemington (over 1100 metres), running a close third to Biscayne Bay. Unsurprisingly given his form to that point, the step up to 1400 metres next start once again did the trick, as he defeated God’s Own by more than a length to win the Group 3 Schweppes Cup. Another tilt at Group 1 level, this time the Australian Guineas, was his next assignment. This time ‘The Cat’ was successful though, defeating Darci Brahma by a length.

The remainder of his autumn campaign took place in Sydney. Racing clockwise for the first time, he relished the wet track at Rosehill and held off Racing To Win in the Group 2 Phar Lap Stakes. This win put him in amongst the contenders for the Group 1 Doncaster Handicap – a race in which three year-olds historically had performed well. Maybe it was the effect of the lengthy preparation, or possibly the weight of carrying my cash, but he ran well below par on the day, finishing in last place while Racing To Win saluted the judge first. A spell was in order.

While his spring 2006 campaign failed to produce a win, there were a number of strong runs in high quality races from which to draw some consolation. A third to Bel Danoro in the Listed Auries Star Handicap at Flemington was followed by a third to El Segundo in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes, his first run at WFA level. He was the narrowest of seconds to Lad Of The Manor in the Group 2 Feehan (nowadays Dato Tan Chin Nam) Stakes at Moonee Valley. His next two starts were the only two of his career beyond a mile – running seventh to Sphenophyta in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes and seventh to Fields Of Omagh in the Group 1 Cox Plate. The preparation finished off with a drop in distance back to the mile, where he ran third to Divine Madonna in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes. At this stage of his career, it looked as though 1400 to 1600 metres was his optimal distance range. Hold that thought for a moment.

A 61-kilo impost awaited Apache Cat for his first run of 2007 in the Listed Meneres Handicap at Caulfield. Yet this proved no problem whatsoever, as he won by almost two lengths over Zimstar. He then defeated Bon Hoffa twice in winning the Group 3 Carlyon Cup (carrying 58 kilos) and Group 2 Blamey Stakes (carrying 57.5 kilos). With three straight wins and a total of nine from 20 starts, it was once again time to head to Sydney and take on the big autumn races.

His first Sydney assignment was the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes. A small but elite field greeted the starter and in a driving finish, it was the three year-olds Haradasun and Mentality who fought it out, with the former winning and Apache Cat half a length away in third. Just over a week later, the same three gallopers formed part of the Doncaster Handicap field. The two three year-olds ran 1-2 in the same order once more, while Apache Cat ran fifth. It had become clear that over a mile, he was just a fraction off the absolutely elite gallopers.

In August 2007 he resumed in Melbourne, this time in Group 3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield. In perhaps the first sign of sprinting glory to come, he blazed over the 1200 metres to defeat Haradasun by two and a half lengths. Thereafter he won the Group 2 Liston Stakes over Marasco, before running second to the same galloper in the Group 2 Makybe Diva Stakes.

25 starts for 11 wins (eight at Group level) and six placings – it doesn’t seem like a recipe worth tinkering with too much. Yet that is what Greg Eurell did in 2008. The results were both impressive and instantaneous.

Apache Cat lined up in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington – his first run over 1000 metres since his race debut. Despite being hampered a little at the start, he powered home to victory. He then went to Moonee Valley for the Group 1 Australia (William Reid) Stakes at 1200 metres, winning by over a length as a heavy favourite.

His trip north in 2008 took in Sydney once again, but this time it was the 1200 metres of the Group 1 TJ Smith that was the key assignment. On a heavy track he romped in by almost three lengths from Reigning To Win, with Takeover Target a distant third.

The lure of the Brisbane Winter Carnival then called for the first time. In the Group 1 BTC Cup, he went out a prohibitive odds-on favourite and despite some nervous moments in the home straight, held out Vormista to record a fourth consecutive Group 1 victory. The Group 1 Doomben 10,000 was a far more straightforward event in the end, as he won with borderline contempt by almost five lengths over Murtajill. Five Group 1 victories in as many starts was as emphatic a validation of Eurell’s decision as anyone could hope for.

His 2008 spring campaign kicked off much later than had traditionally been the case – this time in the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (previously Linlithgow Stakes). Despite going out the very strong favourite, he over-raced early and was fading by the 400-metre mark, eventually finishing eighth behind Swick. Three weeks later he made his Perth debut in the Group 2 (nowadays Group 1) Winterbottom Stakes. Despite the field stretching to nine horses, it was in many people’s minds something of a ‘match race’ with Takeover Target, and the two favourites did not disappoint – Takover Target getting the nod in a photo, with Marasco well back in third. His final run of the campaign doubled as his overseas debut, in the Group 1 Hong Kong Stakes. Sent out the favourite, he ran strongly but could not overcome Inspiration, finishing half a length back in third place.

His autumn 2009 campaign would pass through the same five Group 1 races he had taken out the year prior, but the results would be somewhat subdued by comparison. He commenced with a defence of his Lightning Stakes crown, however the story would be a disappointing one – after being slow to begin, he never threatened and eventually finished ninth to Scenic Blast. A return to Moonee Valley second up would have a much happier ending, as he once again easily won the Australia Stakes, this time by three lengths. He ran a distant third to Takeover Target in the TJ Smith and a narrow third to Duporth in the BTC Cup, before finding the Group 1 winners circle once again in the Doomben 10,000 in defeating Black Piranha. Two Group 1 wins from five starts was certainly a strong haul, yet it paled in comparison with his 2008 conquests.

Now a seven year-old, his final preparation began at one of his favourite stomping grounds, Moonee Valley, in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes. The race itself was one of multiple hard luck stories – Apache Cat was one of these, never getting a clear crack at them in the home straight and finishing an undeserved sixth, less than a length and a half from the winner Danleigh. There would be no such excuses second up though, when he was beaten soundly by Lucky Secret in the Group 2 Schillaci Stakes at Caulfield. The final win of his career would come on Cox Plate Day in the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes, defeating promising stablemate Mic Mac. His final two runs were a fourth in the Patinack Farm Classic to All Silent and seventh in the Hong Kong Stakes to Sacred Kingdom, where fractured his sesamoid bone and was subsequently retired.

While his final preparation had been disappointing, his performances over the seasons prior left no doubt that he was among the best sprinters of the decade.

 

The memories

Apache Cat was one of my favourites. He had such a distinctive look – the white blaze across his face that surpassed even that of the great New Zealand galloper Rough Habit, the white feet, the striking chestnut everywhere else. It’s a good thing that he never wound up in a police line-up – his features were far too distinguishable to miss.

His career path was an interesting one too – a veritable career of two halves.  The first half concluded in 2007, with 11 wins from 25 starts, many coming in preparations where the focus was centred around feature races at the mile or thereabouts. Thereafter he won eight times from 18 attempts when restricted to the sprinting caper.

However, a simple measurement of wins tells only part of the story. It omits the fact that he won a single Group 1 (against his own age group) in the first ‘’half’, but seven Group 1 races (all at WFA level, against opponents of all ages) over shorter distances.

He could on occasion over-race – a tendency that sprints, with their faster overall tempo, helped to minimalise. Over longer distances he often led, but in sprints he could often take a sit behind a bona fide speedster. Apache Cat and sprinting proved to be a perfect match. Indeed, the list of sprinters who won seven Group 1 races in the space of around 15 months is far from exhaustive. Which only serves to highlight how worthy this galloper is of a position among the Sprinting Stars of the modern era.

 

The stats

Overall record: 43 starts, 19 wins (8 x Group 1s, 4 x Group 2s, 4 x Group 3), four seconds, seven thirds, $4,588,655 prize money  

2YO autumn (2005): Three starts, two wins

3YO spring (2005): Three starts, one win (1 x G3)

3YO summer/ autumn (2006): Five starts, three wins (1 x G1, 1 x G2, 1 x G3), one third

4YO spring (2006): Six starts, one second, two thirds

4YO summer/ autumn (2007): Five starts, three wins (1 x G2, 1 x G3), one third

5YO spring (2007): Three starts, two wins (1 x G2, 1 x G3), once second

5YO autumn (2008): Five starts, five wins (5 x G1)

6YO spring/ summer (2008): Three starts, one second, one third

6YO summer/ autumn (2009): Five starts, two wins (2 x G1), two thirds

7YO spring/ summer (2009): Five starts, one win (1 x G2), one second

 

 

Turf Heroes series

Just in case you missed them the first time around, links to each of our Turf Heroes series are below:

(1) Super Impose, (2) Better Loosen Up, (3) Let’s Elope,(4) Octagonal, (5) Saintly, (6) Might and Power, (7) Sunline, (8) Northerly, (9) Lonhro, (10) Makybe Diva

Image:

Comments are closed.