Apache Cat has won more Group One races than the rest of the field in the Manikato Stakes put together, and gets the chance to take his tally to nine in the weight-for-age feature.But trainer Greg Eurell, who also has dual Group Two winner Mic Mac engaged in Friday night's race at Moonee Valley, said it was only because of the gelding's baldy face that he managed to hold on to the now seven-year-old as a late two-year-old."The only thing that saved him from going to Hong Kong was his white face

Apache Cat has won more Group One races than the rest of the field in the Manikato Stakes put together, and gets the chance to take his tally to nine in the weight-for-age feature.

But trainer Greg Eurell, who also has dual Group Two winner Mic Mac engaged in Friday night's race at Moonee Valley, said it was only because of the gelding's baldy face that he managed to hold on to the now seven-year-old as a late two-year-old.

"The only thing that saved him from going to Hong Kong was his white face so it did help me that he stayed here, thank goodness," Eurell said of Apache Cat.

"He was gone but the buyer, a client of David Hall's, didn't like his white face and the sale fell through."

At that time the flashy chestnut had had three starts for a 1000m win at Sandown on debut and a victory in the 2005 Listed Gibson-Carmichael Stakes (1620m) at Flemington.

"The price was settled on at $400,000, he was vetted, passed and I sent a DVD of him but when the buyer saw it he said the horse was `too easy to see' and would embarrass him if he turned out to be no good.

"It was the only thing stopping him from buying him.

"It was like buying a Ferrari and you don't like the paint colour of the car, I mean the motor is still there."

By the unfashionable stallion Lion Cavern, Apache Cat will be having his 39th start in the Manikato (1200m).

So far his record reads 18 wins, three seconds and seven thirds for $4,395,155 in prizemoney.

His latest outing was when he won his second successive Group One Doomben 10,000 (1350m) on a heavy track in May.

"When you walk into Moonee Valley and see the display of Better Loosen Up, he won eight Group Ones and you think to yourself what a good effort," Eurell said of the former champion galloper who won the 1990 Cox Plate and Japan Cup.

"If Apache wins the Manikato he's one ahead of him."

Apache Cat hasn't contested a Manikato Stakes before but two of his Group One victories have come at the Valley in the past two runnings of the Australia Stakes (1200m).

His other two runs at the track were when beaten a nose when runner-up to Lad Of The Manor in the 2006 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes (1600m) and when seventh to Fields Of Omagh in the Cox Plate (2040m) the same year.

The other Group One winners in the Manikato field are Duporth (BTC Cup), Danleigh (All-Aged Stakes), Turffontein (Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes), Nicconi (The Galaxy), Russeting (Winter Stakes) and Phelan Ready (Golden Slipper).

Eurell said he was finding it hard to split Apache Cat and the younger Mic Mac who have been working together.

Memsie Stakes winner Mic Mac is the better fancied of his pair at $4.40 with TAB Sportsbet fixed odds, just being shaded by the favourite Nicconi at $4.20.

Lucky Secret is at $4.80, Apache Cat at $7.50, Swift Alliance at $8.50 with Secret Flyer next best at $10.