Racing: Apache Cat ready to pounce on feature sprint

HONG KONG - Victorian trainer Greg Eurell says he couldn't be happier with eight-time group one winner Apache Cat ahead of his shot at redemption in Sunday's Hong Kong Sprint at Sha Tin.

The baldy-faced star was odds-on favourite when third to Inspiration in the 1200m feature 12 months ago and, while getting on as a 7-year-old, Eurell says the gelding is "a bit fresher" for this year's assignment.

"I think we'll start to ease off him now, where he's at in life, but I couldn't be happier with him right now," Eurell told the South China Morning Post.

"He is starting to get along a bit, and wear and tear sneaks into the equation, as it does with them all, and we are probably going to be more careful and selective about where we go after this.

"Last year, he did quite a bit of travel to get here after we took him to Perth. He came back to Melbourne, a five-hour flight, then had to get on a plane again to come here.

"We thought about Perth this year, but the flight schedules didn't allow for a run there and we considered the International Sprint Trial here, but it didn't quite fit either.

"So he comes with a little gap between runs and a bit fresher, but that might be in his favour.

"I thought he had never looked better in his career than he did when he was here last year, so we've stuck to the same game plan and he has allowed us to do that - he's just in great order."

Eurell said Apache Cat, who hasn't started since his close fourth to Sunday's rival All Silent in the Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) at Flemington on November 7, would just trot and canter leading up to the race after working on Tuesday.

"He was right on song when we left Australia and all he needs is a top-off. Everything is going to plan," he said.

Menawhile, back in Australia, Gerald Ryan Is one of a group of high-profile Sydney trainers who have set their sights on plundering some summer riches in Brisbane on Saturday.

The Eagle Farm programme boasts three black-type races and Sydney trainers are set to play a hand in two of them.

Ryan, who is based at Rosehill but also has a satellite operation at Murwillumbah on NSW's north coast, has entered 2-year-old Rapid Leica Dane for the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes (1000m).

Chris Waller (Miss Independent), John O'Shea (Lustre Lady), Joe Pride (Michelin Star), Paul Messara (Alverta) and Newcastle horseman Kris Lees (Visa Lisa) all have mares in the mix for the Listed Just Now Hcp (1300m) which has attracted 29 entries.

Rapid Leica Dane is one of 20 nominations for the colts and geldings' race and will be ridden by Brad Pengelly.

He was third to Marking Time on debut at Eagle Farm last month and Ryan said the juvenile should have finished closer.

"He was a bit green, a bit new," Ryan said.

"He got stopped in his tracks a couple of times in the straight and I'm not saying he would have won but he should have finished a clear second. He is open to good natural improvement."

Rapid Leica Dane is by Rapid Man, a sire Ryan knows well.

He has several of the stallion's progeny in his stable and says most of them can gallop.

The listed Calaway Gal Stakes (1000m) for 2-year-old fillies rounds out the black-type racing at Eagle Farm with 13 nominations. They include last-start winners Ringa Ringa Rosie, Military Rose, Demanding Miss and Reflection Of Jade.

- AAP