Apache Cat greatly impressed top jockey Glen Boss from a Doncaster Handicap point of view with his easy win in Saturday's Group Three Carlyon Cup at Caulfield.

Carrying equal topweight of 58kg, the flashy Lion Cavern four-year-old strolled in by 3-1/4 lengths from Bon Hoffa ($14) with Lucky Unicorn ($7.50) a short-half-head away third.

"Outstanding," Boss said to trainer Greg Eurell.

"He's just improved and improved. He settled beautifully and was cantering.

"Keep me in mind for the Doncaster."

Boss, who won the Group Three Schweppervescence Cup (1400m) on Apache Cat at this meeting last year, hadn't ridden him since and replaced the currently suspended Damien Oliver on him.

Oliver won the BMW Stakes (1100m) on him at Caulfield when he resumed and shouldered 61kg on February 10.

Apache Cat, who settled in second place behind Recapitalize, cruised to the lead and was not asked by Boss to do anything in the closing stages.

Eurell admitted the ease of the win had surprised him.

"There were some pretty good horses in that race," he said.

But Eurell said he would not be tempted to back the chestnut gelding up in next Saturday's Group One Futurity Stakes (1600m) at Caulfield.

"He'll run in the Blamey in three weeks and then he'll go on a trip to Sydney to run in the Ryder and the Doncaster," said the Cranbourne trainer.

After he won the 2006 Group One Australian Guineas, Apache Cat went to Sydney where he won the Group Two Phar Lap Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill before he led and ran last behind Racing To Win in the Doncaster.

"He got pretty upset on Doncaster Day and just didn't perform," said Eurell.

Apache Cat has now won eight of his 19 starts and Eurell agreed that the best could still be ahead of him even though he's already earned more than $1.2 million in stakemoney.

PICS - Quentin Lang.