Greg Eurell is very confident Apache Cat can make it back-to-back wins in Saturday's Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington despite the presence of reigning Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler.Apache Cat was voted Australia's champion sprinter of last season ahead of Weekend Hussler who did a lot of his racing outside the sprinting range.The Lightning will be their much-awaited first clash in a race."I'm very confident in our bloke, he always goes out there and gives it his best shot," Eurell sa
Greg Eurell is very confident Apache Cat can make it back-to-back wins in Saturday's Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington despite the presence of reigning Horse of the Year Weekend Hussler.
Apache Cat was voted Australia's champion sprinter of last season ahead of Weekend Hussler who did a lot of his racing outside the sprinting range.
The Lightning will be their much-awaited first clash in a race.
"I'm very confident in our bloke, he always goes out there and gives it his best shot," Eurell said.
"Weekend Hussler has never raced at 1000-metres so I suppose there has got to be a query about how he can handle it.
"From all reports he's going very well but our horse is too and I'm sure he is going to give him a run for his money."
After the Lightning, the 2008 Global Sprint Challenge winner will have a return clash with Weekend Hussler in the Australia Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on February 14.
"He would have a very short let-up after that and then get ready for the TJ Smith in Sydney," Eurell said.
"From there we haven't sat down and worked it out yet. We were quite happy with what we did last year, heading to Brisbane from Sydney (after winning the TJ Smith Stakes at Randwick) and it's strong on the agenda.
"We have had preliminary discussions with representatives from Royal Ascot and Singapore as to their races, but it hasn't been fully decided.
"If the opportunity came up again I'd love to take him back to Hong Kong and have another go at the International Sprint.
"It was a great experience and the second time around you know the place and we weren't far off the mark (third to Inspiration) this time and I'd certainly like to give it another go."
Apart from Weekend Hussler, Eurell also has a lot of respect for Swick.
"There is going to be a lot of speed in the race and you can't underestimate Swick. I think he'll run very well," he said.
Swick, who came from last to win his first Group One race in the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington last spring, a race in which Apache Cat failed, has been backed from $17 to $10 and is now third pick in Eskander's Betstar market.
The O'Reilly gelding went down by a neck when runner-up to Apache Cat in last year's Lightning and gives master trainer Bart Cummings the chance for his ninth win in the 1000m weight-for-age feature.
"He loves Flemington. He's a good each-way bet," Cummings said.
"He's in very good shape for the race."
Lee Freedman will be trying for his seventh Lightning success with Wilander, the only three-year-old in the race.
"It's been a very lucky race for us," he said.
"He (Wilander) fits the right mould and you only get the one chance to run in a Lightning as a three-year-old.
"He's a weight-for-age winner as a spring three-year-old and he beat a good horse at weight-for-age in Lucky Secret and I don't think there was any fluke about his win at Caulfield (in the Group Two Schillaci Stakes (1000m)).
"With his record over the 1100 metres at Caulfield obviously the Oakleigh Plate is his main goal, but what better goal is there than the Lightning? I can't find one."
Freedman said he expected Wilander to settle just off speedsters such as Typhoon Zed and Swiss Ace in the run.
Weekend Hussler has eased from $1.85 to $2 favourite with Betstar, while Apache Cat has drifted from $3.30 to $4.
Wilander is at $13 with Scenic Blast next best at $15.