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| Editor: Elliot Dean | | Writer: Marcus Walta | | Writer: Janet Bastow | | Photographer: Matthew Smith | |
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Crowd Favourite Apache Cat Wins Schweppes |
By Marcus Walta
Jockey Damian Oliver has steered popular Australian sprinter Apache Cat to an exciting victory on Cox Plate Day, winning the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes at Moonee Valley. The vocal crowd cheered on the star, who snuck through on the rails to just beat stablemate Mic Mac by a short neck.
Trainer Greg Eurell was very happy with the quinella in such a significant race, but even more impressed by Apache Cat's fighting spirit.
"It is a magic moment," Eurell said. "I could feel the crowd behind him. To have a horse like this and to have another one run second is very special".
It was a very patient ride from Oliver who rode Apache Cat closer to the speed than usual, and didn't have a clear run around the home turn. The two early leaders, Bank Robber and Lucky Secret were starting to feel the pressure up front, and Mic Mac had loomed into the race out wide to take the lead.
But Ollie, being the champion rider that he is, found a gap on the inside, and squeezed through to win his 19th race.
"He's done it for such a long time now", Oliver Said. "Everyone loves him because of the way he looks but he's got a heart as big as himself."
Bank Robber battled hard to hold on for third, with Ortensia flashing home late to run into fourth, just ahead of last year's winner Lucky Secret.
Apache Cat will now head to Hong Kong where the trainer has some "unfinished business there". Apache Cat finished third in the Hong Kong International Sprint last year.
He will go to the Hong Kong Trial in November and if all goes well, finish off with a shot at redemption in December in the Sprint.
Fans will be eagerly watching the 7 year old from Australian shores. Who knows if it's the last time we will get to see our champion run.
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