Apart from a small problem that is unique to Hong Kong, Australian galloper Apache Cat is in perfect shape as he prepares to make his international debut in Hong Kong on Sunday.Trainer Greg Eurell says the horse has travelled well, trained brilliantly and is eating as if he were at home.At Thursday's barrier draw he even came up with an almost ideal barrier in the $HK12 million Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).The only concern Eurell has is with the towering blocks of apartments flanking the Sha Tin tra

Apart from a small problem that is unique to Hong Kong, Australian galloper Apache Cat is in perfect shape as he prepares to make his international debut in Hong Kong on Sunday.

Trainer Greg Eurell says the horse has travelled well, trained brilliantly and is eating as if he were at home.

At Thursday's barrier draw he even came up with an almost ideal barrier in the $HK12 million Hong Kong Sprint (1200m).

The only concern Eurell has is with the towering blocks of apartments flanking the Sha Tin track.

"Those high-rise buildings took a bit of getting used to," Eurell said.

"There aren't that many where he works at home and he wanted to have a good look at them for the first few days."

Apache Cat drew barrier two on Thursday in a race in which he is bound to start the warm favourite.

Victory in the sprint, which has been won for the past eight years by an Australian-trained or bred horse, would be Apache Cat's seventh at Group One level and would also give the six-year-old a flying start to what is planned to be a glittering international career.

But Eurell admits that a lot depends on how he performs on Sunday.

"Everything has gone our way so far," Eurell said.

"We've had a faultless trip, everything here is first class and the horse has loved it.

"He has to get through Sunday before we make any further plans, but we're looking forward to it."

Eurell and major part-owner Paul Radford were even prepared to accept their second-best option at the barrier draw.

"We'd wanted barrier three, but two will do very well," the trainer said.

So well has Apache Cat settled in to the Hong Kong routine, connections are prepared to put out of their minds the worst run of the gelding's career when he finished eighth in the Patinack Classic at Flemington when resuming last month.

"That was something we've never experienced with him before," Eurell said.

Assisting in the expulsion of that run from his trainer's mind was Apache Cat's close second to Takeover Target in Perth last Saturday week.

"That was an extra good effort," Eurell said.

"I'd have liked it if he'd won, but really it was as much as I could have hoped for."

Douro Valley, Australia's other runner at the meeting billed as the Turf World Championships, has also had a trouble-free preparation in Hong Kong.

But he fared less well at the barrier draw for the $HK14 million Hong Kong Vase (2400m), coming up with the outside stall in a field of 13.

His trainer Danny O'Brien said the wide gate was at least better than barrier one, but admitted it hadn't helped his chances.

"He struggles in the first furlong (200m) to show much speed," O'Brien said.

"So in that way, he's better off than he would be from an inside draw.

"But somewhere closer in would have been nice."

Douro Valley is on the fourth line of betting with English bookies fielding on the meeting with the French runner Doctor Dino dominating the market.

O'Brien said he could see the Yalumba Stakes winner taking a position outside the leader or one place further back.

"It will depend on the speed, but there's a good run to the first corner and he should be able to get across," he said.

"I just don't want them to go too hard."