Trainer Greg Eurell believes the fight for Apache Cat to retain his BTC Cup title at Doomben is far from decided despite the baldy-faced sprinter taking early points at Wednesday's barrier draw.Eurell rated Apache Cat's barrier four as ideal for the first Group One of the Brisbane winter carnival on Saturday but has no doubt Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace, from barrier five, will use his early pace to lead."I'm glad we drew well but I don't think our draw is any advantage over Swiss Ace," Eurel

Trainer Greg Eurell believes the fight for Apache Cat to retain his BTC Cup title at Doomben is far from decided despite the baldy-faced sprinter taking early points at Wednesday's barrier draw.

Eurell rated Apache Cat's barrier four as ideal for the first Group One of the Brisbane winter carnival on Saturday but has no doubt Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace, from barrier five, will use his early pace to lead.

"I'm glad we drew well but I don't think our draw is any advantage over Swiss Ace," Eurell said.

"I'm happy with our draw but it wouldn't matter what draw Swiss Ace got - he'd run past us from anywhere."

Apache Cat was at the top of his game this time last year when he won the BTC Cup (1200m) to give him his fourth successive Group One win following victories in the Lightning and Australia Stakes in Melbourne and the TJ Smith in Sydney.

He extended his Group One-winning sequence to five when he won the Doomben 10,000 (1350m) last May.

"I don't think my bloke is any better than last year but he's in good shape and is going just as well," Eurell said.

"Swiss Ace has really improved over the past 12 months."

Eurell again confessed Apache Cat, a Damien Oliver mount, was disappointing when he finished third, almost six lengths behind winner Takeover Target, in the TJ Smith (1200m) at Randwick last month.

"For some reason, perhaps because he's older, he's not as dominant any more first-up," Eurell said.

"But he's rock-hard fit now and ready for this race."

Eurell named Swiss Ace and 2007 Stradbroke Handicap winner Sniper's Bullet, who drew the rails in the field of 10, as the main dangers to Apache Cat.

Swiss Ace won successive Group Two Sir Byrne Hart Stakes at Eagle Farm at his last appearance on Anzac Day but his trainer Mick Mair is cautious about nominating dangers.

"Our alley is okay but I don't want any rain and there's more than just Apache Cat in the race," Mair warned.

"They don't get to Group One level by winning at Gympie."

Mair believed Swiss Ace was a much stronger type now than when he finished third to Apache Cat in last year's BTC Cup.

"He was only a three-year-old when we met Apache Cat last year and my bloke is a lot stronger now," he said.

"But I don't think Apache Cat was necessarily at his top when we met him last year.

"Swiss Ace doesn't have to lead but if he does he'll be hard to run down."

TAB Sportsbet had Apache Cat as $2.40 favourite on Wednesday ahead of Swiss Ace at $3.80, with Bank Robber ($7) and Sniper's Bullet ($9) the only other runners under double-figure odds.