KEY POINTS:
SYDNEY - Everything including the weather has fallen into place for Apache Cat ahead of today's A$2.2 million ($2.5 million) Doncaster Handicap which will be run on a wet track at Randwick.
Apache Cat was deposed as favourite by Haradasun for the group one 1600m feature when finishing third to the 3-year-old in the George Ryder Stakes recently.
Trainer Greg Eurell was at Caulfield in Melbourne on Saturday to saddle up Fire In The Night to win a 3-year-old handicap but kept a keen eye on the Sydney races, delighted with the rain.
"I couldn't believe how much rain there was," Eurell said.
"It probably hinders a few of the others but it certainly doesn't worry us.
"Apache Cat's form in the wet is very, very good and it has been in good races.
"He came through the George Ryder really well and I couldn't be happier."
The winner of last year's Australian Guineas, Apache Cat has had four starts on slow and heavy tracks for three wins.
In September 2005 he beat subsequent Caulfield Guineas winner God's Own in the prelude to that race on a heavy track.
He also beat God's Own in the group three Schweppes Cup the following February on slow ground then claimed the scalp of last year's George Ryder-Doncaster Handicap winner Racing To Win in the Phar Lap Stakes in the same conditions.
Prior to his third in the Ryder, the striking chestnut with the big white blaze had racked up three stakes wins in Melbourne.
Apache Cat will be ridden by Damien Oliver who had to play second fiddle to Darren Beadman at Saturday's AJC Australian Derby meeting after taking the limelight a week earlier with a four-win haul including the Golden Slipper-BMW double on Forensics and Blutigeroo.
Beadman will partner George Ryder runner-up Mentality in the Doncaster with the 3-year-old unknown on slow or heavy tracks.
"He's won two group one races over the mile at Randwick, the Champagne and the Guineas," Beadman said.
A year ago, Mentality won the T L Baillieu on a dead track at Warwick Farm and was a close third to He's No Pie Eater in last month's Chipping Norton Stakes at the same track in similar conditions.
Gai Waterhouse will have three runners - Aqua D'Amore, Flaming and Beauty Watch - as she aims to equal the record of seven victories attained by her father, the late T J Smith.
Bart Cummings will be aiming for his sixth win in the race with Swick and High Cee.
The rail will come out 3m from the 1200m mark for today's meeting.
- AAP
