Michael Rodd rapt in Apache Cat
Saturday, 4 August 2007:
Michael Rodd declared it would take a sledgehammer to get him off Apache Cat
after he outgunned glamour four-year-old Haradasun to win the Group Three Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield.
Rodd said he was confident a long way from home and was thrilled with Apache Cat's 2-1/2-length win over the $45 million entire who beat him at his last two Group One starts in the George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Handicap.
Haradasun, an easing favourite from $1.70 to start in the black at $2.10, was no match for the baldy-faced chestnut who shot away at the top of the straight.
"I got to the half-mile (800m) and I was giggling to myself because I couldn't believe how well he (Apache Cat) was going," said Rodd who rode the horse for the first time.
"He pulled himself up there three deep and when I let him go he was sensational.
"He's got class and they might need a sledgehammer to get me off him now."
Trainer Greg Eurell said Apache Cat deserved his win but didn't expect the margin to be so decisive.
"To beat him (Haradasun) the way he did probably surprised me a bit," Eurell said.
"But I was very happy with him leading into this as he was always giving me a good feel and what he did today probably only just highlighted what I have been looking at.
"It was a soft win in the end as Michael didn't do a lot on him and he got to the line very well.
"It looks good for the rest of the spring."
Trainer Tony Vasil praised Apache Cat as a brilliant sprinter but said Haradasun was vulnerable today and would improve.
"This horse (Haradasun) is now more mature and the style and manner he raced today showed he is now looking for ground," Vasil said.
"He needed to have a run today but that horse (Apache Cat) is a bloody good horse over 1200 metres and was too brilliant for him."
In the last two weeks Haradasun had been backed from $12 to $6 favouritism for the Cox Plate on October 27 but Michael Eskander's Betstar eased him to $8 after Saturday's performance.
Damien Oliver was having his first ride on Haradasun and said he would be better suited over 1400 metres.
"I was right there with (Apache Cat) but he really got away from me on the turn," he said.
Apache Cat and Haradasun now look certain to clash again in the Group Two Liston Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on August 18.
Vasil said he was planning to next run Haradasun in the Memsie Stakes a week after the Liston but now fears the horse may do too well with three weeks between runs.
Eurell said he remained unsure about Cox Plate aspirations for Apache Cat.
"It is always going to be question mark for him," Eurell said.
"He's a quality galloper, no doubt, but it will be interesting to see once we get up to mile (1600m) what he does from there."
Honalee ran another honest race today after finishing third last start in the Monash Stakes and again filled the minor placing 2-1/2 lengths behind Haradasun.
Apaiser, who led early, finished fourth while the eye-catching run was Melbourne Cup placegetter Maybe Better who was tailed off on the home turn and ran fifth of the seven runners over an unsuitable distance, less than seven lengths from the winner.
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