Apache Cat travels kindly

Apache Cat has landed in Hong Kong to complete the Australian invasion for the Cathay Pacific International race meeting at Sha Tin on December 13, strapper Ty Poulton reporting that Australia’s white-faced sprinter travelled well and settled in to familiar stables after racing at the same meeting last year.

Cranbourne trainer Greg Eurell left for Hong Kong today after hearing from Poulton that the Cat had “flown over the first hurdle” in his bid to improve on third placing, behind Inspiration, in last year’s Group 1 International Sprint (1200m).

Apache Cat is in the Australian quarantine barn at Sha Tin with sprinters All Silent and Scenic Blast and miler Racing To Win. Scenic Blast has been there since October 17, having raced in Japan earlier that month; the other pair, from NSW, flew in a day earlier than Apache Cat and have pleased connections since.

Sportingbet has All Silent as $4.60 favourite for the $HK12 million (about $A1.8 million) sprint ahead of local champ Sacred Kingdom ($4.80), Scenic Blast ($7), American California Flag ($7.50) and Apache Cat ($8).

Damien Oliver will ride eight-times Group 1 winner Apache Cat, Steven Arnold will be on Australia’s horse of the year Scenic Blast and Nick Hall will partner All Silent, the Group 1 Patinack Farm Classic (1200m) winner at Flemington last month.

The South China Morning Post reported that Scenic Blast appeared to be over foot problems that forced his withdrawal from the Group 2 Sprint Trial (1200m) at Sha Tin on November 22, working strongly for Arnold in winning a four-horse trial on the turf yesterday.

“I was happy with that,” trainer Dan Morton told the paper. “He clearly needed the hit-out but he seems to have come through it well.

“The foot problem is just something we have to keep an eye on and manage. It flares up now and again but he appears OK now.”

Racing To Win is a $13 chance in the $HK16 million (about $A2.2 million) Group 1 Mile – last year’s winner Good Ba Ba is favourite at $2.60 from Happy Zero ($4).

The big international meeting has four Group 1 races  – the 2000m Cup and 2400m Vase are the others – and a prelude meeting under lights at Happy Valley on December 9 that features an international jockeys’ challenge. Hugh Bowman, winner of the Sydney premiership last season, is Australia’s representative.

THE BREEDING

Apache Cat (Ch g 7, Lion Cavern (USA)-Tennessee Blaze, by Whiskey Road (USA))

All Silent (B g 6, Belong To Me (USA)-Lisheenowen, by Semipalatinsk (USA))

Scenic Blast (B or br g 5, Scenic (IRE)-Daughter’s Charm, by Delgado (USA))

Racing To Win (Gr g 7, Encosta De Lago-Surrealist, by Kenny’s Best Pal)

Sacred Kingdom (B g 6, Encosta De Lago-Courtroom Sweetie, by Zeditave)

Good Ba Ba (B g 7, Lear Fan (USA)-Elle Meme (GB), by Zilzai (USA))

Happy Zero (B g 5, Danzero-Have Love, by Canny Lad)