Three years ago, Apache Cat was running without success in the Cox Plate. Now switched to sprinting he made his mark on Cox Plate day by winning the Group 2 Schweppes Stakes.

Apache Cat

Ridden brilliantly by Damien Oliver, Apache Cat was parked fourth on the rails early behind Bank Robber, Lucky Secret and Mic Mac.

Coming through late on the rails, Apache Cat ($3.00-$3.60-$3.40F) beat his stablemate Mic Mac ($6.50-$7.50-$6.50) with the Gai Waterhouse trained Bank Robber ($13-$16) putting in his best run for some time to finish third.

Apache Cat's trainer Greg Eurell had expected Oliver to have Apache Cat further off the pace than he was.

"Damien looked a bit positive wanting to do that today", he observed.

"He'd obviously done his homework and you don't change the rules."

"If he wants to do it you just let him do it."

Eurell was very happy to quinella the race.

"Its hard to split those two and to run one two in a race of this calibre against the field they did I'm absolutely thrilled to bits."

While they raced against each other today, Eurell has different race programs for his star sprinters from now on.

Mic Mac will go to the $500,000 Group 1 Patinack Farm Stakes at Flemington on November 7th while Apache Cat will probably go to Hong Kong for the international races in December.

"We'll strongly consider it and I think it will work out well so now this week we'll work out what we're going to do and give me the opportunity to give the boy a week off", Eurell said.

"We'll start to get him ready."

"They've got international trials on there before the main event so it could work out really good for him."

Now a seven year old, Apache Cat is the winner of 19 races and nearly $4.6 million. The Cox Plate crowd roared its approval as his distinctive baldy face loomed up on the rails for yet another win.

"He's certainly a crowd favourite and I hope he continues to be for a bit longer yet", Eurell enthused.

Photos: Quentin Lang