KEY POINTS:
Damien Oliver booked himself to ride in-form galloper Apache Cat in Sydney after guiding him to an impressive win in the Group Two Blamey Stakes at Sandown in Melbourne yesterday.
Oliver wanted to test Apache Cat in the set-weights plus penalties event before confirming that he would ride the the baldy-faced chestnut in both the Group One George Ryder Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill on March 31 and the $A2.25 million ($2.58 million) Doncaster Hcp (1600m) at Randwick on April 9.
After racing keenly in the early stages, mainly due to the slow early pace according to Oliver, Apache Cat came from fourth and raced clear to score by two lengths from Bon Hoffa with Molotov 1 3/4 lengths away in third in the 1600m feature.
Red Dazzler led early from Bon Hoffa with Apache Cat tucked away on the inside third and Lucky Unicorn fourth on his outside.
But Steven Arnold on Lucky Unicorn put some speed into the race when he went to the front after the 1000m.
"It adds strings to your bow when you don't have to lead," trainer Greg Eurell said of Apache Cat. "He heads up to Sydney for the Ryder on March 31.
"Last year after he won the Australian Guineas I took him up to Sydney and he won the Phar Lap Stakes but I brought him back home before returning for the Doncaster.
"This year the timing of the races works out better and I'll keep him in Sydney for the Doncaster.
"He ran last in the Doncaster last year but he was a bit too fresh. He's a lot more settled now and I think it'll be a different story."
Apache Cat is second favourite for the Doncaster and will carry 56.5kg in the metric mile.
Bon Hoffa, who was also runner-up to Apache Cat in the Group Three Carlyon Cup (1400m) at Caulfield a fortnight ago, will have his next start in the Group Three Easter Cup (2000m) at Caulfield on Easter Saturday.
Meanwhile, Perth trainer Stephen Ryan has plans to take yesterday's ATA/Bob Hoysted Hcp (1000m) winner Let Go Thommo to Brisbane for the winter carnival where he would take in the Group One Stradbroke Hcp (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 9.
The Laranto 6-year-old, who won the Group Three Belmont Sprint (1400m) at Belmont Park last June, has raced exclusively in Melbourne at his past six starts. He has been placed in four of those races, but yesterday's listed event was his first win.
Ridden by Steven King, Let Go Thommo held out Chiack by 1 1/4 lengths with Satin Robes a half-head away in third.
The gelding has an excellent record having raced 21 times for 10 wins and seven placings.
- AAP
