Breeding & Racing Magazine

Apache Cat Wins Schweppes Stakes

Ill-fated former Lynden Park shuttle stallion Lion Cavern (Mr Prospector-Secrettame, by Secretariat) added a group success when favoured 7YO gelding Apache Cat (Lion Cavern-Tennessee Blaze, by Whiskey Road) flashed home along the rail to snatch victory by a short-neck in the $200,000 weight-for-age Gr2 Schweppes Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley. Apache Cat (ridden by Damien Oliver for trainer Greg Eurell) defeated 4YO gelded stable-mate Mic Mac (Statue Of Liberty-Amandine, by Tertian) & 5YO gelding Bank Robber (Dash For Cash-Saliah, by Salieri). Home-bred 8-time Gr1-winner Apache Cat now has 19 wins (also including May's Gr1 Doomben 10,000 over 1350m & February's Gr1 Australia Stakes over 1200m at Moonee Valley, plus 2008's Gr1 Doomben 10,000 over 1350m, Gr1 BTC Cup over 1200m, Gr1 T.J.Smith Stakes over 1200m, Gr1 Australia Stakes over 1200m & Gr1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes over 1000m, as well as 2007's Gr2 Liston Stakes over 1400m, Gr2 Blamey Stakes over 1600m, Gr3 Bletchingly Stakes over 1200m, Gr3 Carlyon Cup over 1400m & Listed Meneres BMW Stakes over 1100m, in addition to 2006's Gr1 Australian Guineas over 1600m, Gr2 Phar Lap Stakes over 1500m & Gr3 Schweppervescence Cup over 1400m, following 2005's Gr3 Guineas Prelude & Listed Carmichael Stakes) & 11 placings (including last start's Gr2 Schillaci Stakes over 1000m at Caulfield on October 10, May's Gr1 BTC Cup over 1200m at Doomben & April's Gr1 T.J.Smith Stakes over 1200m at Randwick, plus 2008's Gr1 Hong Kong International Sprint over 1200m & Gr2 Winterbottom Stakes over 1200m, as well as 2007's Gr1 George Ryder Stakes over 1500m & Gr2 Makybe Diva Stakes over 1600m, in addition to 2006's Gr2 Feehan Stakes over 1600m, Gr2 Memsie Stakes over 1400m & Listed Aurie's Star Handicap over 1200m) from 41 starts for $4,566,155 earnings. (Click on the link for full race details from Group Race Results at AAP Racing.)