No horse in Australia is racing better than Apache Cat and his trainer Greg Eurell is brimming with confidence going into Saturday's George Ryder Stakes.

His distinctive white blaze sets Apache Cat apart from his rivals in the parade ring but his new found maturity is what has netted him three wins from three starts in Melbourne this autumn.

A year ago, he won the Phar Lap Stakes around 1500 metres at Rosehill, the same course he will travel in Saturday's weight-for-age Group One race.

Nothing went right for Apache Cat in the Doncaster at his next start and he finished last but this time around he is favourite and primed for the Group One double achieved by Racing To Win last year.

"He is a far more seasoned galloper this year," Eurell said.

"He is strong and has shown he is not one-dimensional by being able to be ridden back.

"All in all as a package, he is a better product and has a lot of strings to his bow."

Apache Cat has 56.5kg in the Doncaster Hcp (1600m) on April 9 and is the likely topweight.

"The Doncaster is his primary target this autumn," Eurell said.

"He has been entered for the big mile race in Hong Kong but we won't make any decisions until after the Doncaster."

The winner of the 2006 Australian Guineas, Apache Cat had six starts in the spring, being placed at his first three before disappointing in three Group Ones including the Cox Plate.

This time around, Eurell mapped out a program designed to get the best out of the four-year-old and so far it has worked.

He won the Listed BMW Stakes (1100m) on February 10 then stepped up to 1400 metres in the Group Three Carlyon Cup before his last start win in the Group Two Blamey Stakes (1600m).

"His main target is the Doncaster and we picked a program that would allow him to progress and make it as achievable as we could," Eurell said.

"The normal option would have been to start in the Orr Stakes but that would have been a tough exercise and so far everything is working well."

Lord Of The Land is a likely defector from the Ryder but his stablemate Casino Prince is a definite starter.

Trained by Anthony Cummings, Casino Prince was beaten just a short head by Miss Finland in the Australian Guineas earlier this month and is also headed to the Doncaster and Hong Kong.

The other entries for the Ryder were Haradasun, who finished fourth in the Guineas, New Zealand Group One winner Jokers Wild, Cinque Cento who is also nominated for the Queen Of The Turf, and Mentality who won the Randwick Guineas last start.

Sydney Turf Club racing manager John Nicholson said although it looked like being a small field, it was one of quality.

"We may end up with just a five horse field if Cinque Cento runs in the Queen Of The Turf," he said.

"But they are the best five horses over the distance and it will still be a very good race."