DOOMBEN PREVIEW May 09, 2009 BTC CUP (WFA 1200M) Race 7, 3.55pm (Brisbane time) Last year the badly-faced hero Apache Cat, fresh from a trio of Group 1 wins in Melbourne and Sydney – Lightning Stakes, Australia Stakes and T.J. Smith – just held out a late finish from the South Australian mare Vormista to win the BTC Cup. Apache Cat certainly wasn’t at his top, and he proved that when, fitter and more tuned, he thrashed his rivals in the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (WFA 1350m) on the same track two weeks later. Apache Cat lines up again in 2009 – he is trying to become the third horse to win two BTC Cups, joining Buck’s Pride (1993, 1994) and Falvelon (2000, 2003). The big chestnut is racing in nowhere near the form of last year. In fact, apart from winning his second Australia Stakes (WFA 1200m) at Moonee Valley in February, when he again beat Vormista, he has struggled. This season Apache Cat has had six starts for one win; and a couple of outof-character shockers suggest all is not quite right with the 6YO gelding – eighth behind Slick in the Group 1 Patinack Classic (WFA 1200m) at Flemington in the spring and ninth behind Scenic Blast in the Group 1 Lightning Stakes (WFA 1000m) at Flemington on January 31. At his latest start, Apache Cat was soundly beaten into third place behind Takeover Target and Northern Meteor in the Group 1 T.J. Smith (WFA 1200m) at Randwick. It was a lacklustre performance, akin to most of his efforts this season. He rallied late under a lot of coaxing from jockey Damien Oliver to grab third place, but he was beaten 5.8 lengths after having
SPEED MAP Predicted positions on settling
a perfect run on a strong pace. It was a performance to give trainer Greg Eurell plenty of reasons to be concerned, because Eurell went into the T.J. Smith with an air of confidence. For that reason, I am more than happy to tip the local champ Swiss Ace to beat Apache Cat in the BTC Cup. The speed map suggests Swiss Ace can dominate this race from the front, as he did when he won the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield in March before finishing the gamest of seconds behind Scenic Blast in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington, when he also led. Swiss Ace was too good for Sniper’s Bullet in the Group 2 Sir Byrne Hart Stakes (WFA 1200m) at Eagle Farm on April 25 – a race he won last year as a 3YO before finishing third behind Apache Cat in the BTC Cup. Swiss Ace is a lot better horse in 2009, whereas Apache Cat has lost lengths on his 2008 form. From barrier five, I expect jockey Ken Pope to spear Swiss Ace to the front, and that’s the last the other nine will see of them. Bank Robber, who resumes from a long break, has trialled strongly in Sydney, and I expect him to follow Swiss Ace throughout. Sniper’s Bullet also is drawn to perform well. Solo Flyer ran a wonderful race in the Doncaster Handicap (1600m) at Randwick. He tracked wide and hit the front at the 300m before being swamped late to finish a close-up ninth behind Vision And Power (btn 1.8lens). He is has been freshened. The tips: Swiss Ace, a standout, to beat Apache Cat, Bank Robber, Sniper’s Bullet and Solo Flyer.
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AND ALSO When the main race is a 2800-metre slog for ordinary horses, you must wonder what there is to follow at (and from) the Flemington meeting on Saturday. Well, And Also will tell you – young jockeys. With eyes only for an old horse (Takeover Target at last Saturday’s Morphettville ‘testimonial’) we’re a week late for the best of the boys, Nick Hall, who had a treble at Caulfield and was suspended to boot. Never mind, the ‘remainders’ represent quality. And, traditionally this is their time of the year as they make full use of their claims. Dean Holland (25 wins), Ibrahim Gundogdu (23), Brenton Avdulla (19) and Logan McGill (14) sit under Hall (28) in the top 20 metro jocks, and all have winning chances at HQ. However, the best prospect for tomorrow looks to be the new kid in town, 16YO West Australian Jarrad Noske – he is at Caulfield with Peter Moody, who served up a double for him last week. JN has four for the boss at Flemington (R5 Annenkov, R6 Flying Monty, R7 Sweet As and R8 Dance Partner) after R4 Cats Whisker for Mark Kavanagh, and can claim his 1.5kg on all bar Flying Monty. There’s a winner – or two – there. The 2kg boys Avdulla, Gundogdu and McGill have winning claims, too, but the best bet should be to go with Billy Egan (3kg) on Tempest Tost in R2 – the filly is first-up after winning the $1m Magic Millions Trophy for 3YOs on the Gold Coast in January, and she has won up the straight. Stephen Howell