Rejoice Apaaaache Cat Brothahs and Sistahs!

[my miss storm cat]

Cat to kick off in Lightning
Story By Jason Hickson

Thursday, 10 January 2008: Top sprinter/miler Apache Cat will kick off his autumn campaign in next month's Group 1 Lightning Stakes at Flemington.

But the latter end of his campaign remains up in the air with trainer Greg Eurell in a quandary as to where to send the popular chestnut.

Eurell said EI restrictions made it very hard to plan an interstate campaign so he will race in Victoria until the picture becomes clearer.

“He's come back from the paddock in top order and everything's fine,” Eurell said. “We've got the Lightning penciled in first-up, then there's the Australia Stakes a fortnight later at Moonee Valley.

“Beyond that it's hard to say. In Sydney the Ryder and Doncaster are the most likely two races if he goes there, and this year I'm thinking about Queensland where he'd probably race in the Doomben 10,000 and Stradbroke.

“But with the EI protocols it's impossible to plan too far ahead at the moment so he'll race here in Victoria until we find out what we can do.”

Apache Cat had only three runs in the spring, winning both the Bletchingly and Liston Stakes before finishing runner-up behind Marasco in the Makybe Diva Stakes.

Last year in Sydney he finished third and fifth in the George Ryder Stakes and Doncaster Handicap behind Haradasun.

Meanwhile Eurell is expecting a big improvement from Wavelength in the final race at Caulfield on Saturday.

The mare finished last fresh-up over 1200m at the same track in the Listed Christmas Stakes on Boxing Day but in easier grade and over a longer journey on Saturday should run a much better race.

“It was a pretty unsuitable race but she had to get going somewhere,” Eurell said. “It's a much better race for her this time and she has a few things in her favour. I'd expect a big improvement from her but she still has a way to go.”

http://www.racingandsports.com.au/ra...asp?NID=118908