Veteran Apache Cat adds another dimension to HK's International Sprint

WHILE the Sydney-trained All Silent is considered the flag-bearer of the Australian contingent to contest Sunday's Hong Kong International Sprint, the veteran Apache Cat is certain to add another dimension to the race, reports The Age.It says: Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell maintains that the eight-time group 1-winning Apache Cat can win the International Sprint (1200 metres), after finishing third to Inspiration in the race last year when favourite.Eurell feels that Apache Cat is going as well

WHILE the Sydney-trained All Silent is considered the flag-bearer of the Australian contingent to contest Sunday's Hong Kong International Sprint, the veteran Apache Cat is certain to add another dimension to the race, reports The Age.

It says: Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell maintains that the eight-time group 1-winning Apache Cat can win the International Sprint (1200 metres), after finishing third to Inspiration in the race last year when favourite.

Eurell feels that Apache Cat is going as well as he ever has. ''He's a bit fresher,'' Eurell said. ''I think we'll start to ease off him, where he's at in life, but I couldn't be happier with him right now.

''He is starting to get along a bit, wear and tear sneaks into the equation, as it does with them all, and we are probably going to be more careful and selective about where we go after this.

''Last year he did quite a bit of travel to get here after we took him to Perth. He came back to Melbourne, a five-hour flight, then had to get on to a plane again to come to Hong Kong.

''We thought about Perth this year, but the flight schedules didn't allow for a run there and we considered the International Sprint Trial here in Hong Kong but it didn't quite fit either.

''So he comes with a little gap between runs and a bit fresher, but that might be in his favour,'' Eurell said.

The trainer was glowing in his praise of Apache Cat and the gelding's ability to travel across the world and still maintain his condition. ''I thought he had never looked better in his career than he did when he was here last year, so we've stuck to the same game plan and he has allowed us to do that and he's in great order,'' he said.