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2008 GLOBAL SPRINT CHALLENGE PROGRAM
Coolmore Lightning Stakes(G1) - featuring Global Sprint Challenge Saturday, 2 February 2008
Result by http://www.vrc.net.au/victoria-racing-club/racing-information-raceday-results.asp?id=122
Apache Cat takes out Lightning Stakes
Saturday, 2 February 2008: Apache Cat passed his biggest test today when he proved too good for his rivals in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington.
Apache Cat passed his biggest test today when he proved too good for his rivals in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington, while the beaten favourite Gold Edition was immediately retired after pulling up lame. Trainer Ron Maund and owner Kevin O'Brien announced Gold Edition had run her last race after she finished fourth. "It's been a great ride. There probably won't be another Gold Edition, but I can look forward to her foals now," Maund said. Jockey Stathi Katsidis told connections that the grey didn't feel right in her action and stewards later reported that she pulled up lame in the near foreleg. "I could see by her action she wasn't relishing the high speed she goes," Maund said. "We don't need to risk her. She's simply been wonderful." Gold Edition bows out from racing having raced 37 times for 17 wins, 12 seconds, a third and $3,182,195. The dual Group One-winning Lion Hunter four-year-old was sent out at $1.85 and settled third behind Magnus and Ticklish. Passing the 400m she was under pressure while Apache Cat ($5.50), ridden by Corey Brown, who settled him ninth of the 10 runners, stormed home to score by a neck from Swick ($21) who would have given master trainer Bart Cummings his eighth Lightning victory. Stanzout ($31), who bumped heavily with Ticklish on jumping away, was 1-1/2 lengths away third with Gold Edition a short head back fourth. Trainer Greg Eurell said he was a bit overwhelmed with Apache Cat's victory, his second at Group One level having won the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington as a three-year-old. "It was a wonderful effort. It was a tough assignment. I had reservations about it, but full marks to him," Eurell said. "There were some question marks on him after his barrier trial and the enforced spell he had in the spring, but he showed what good horses can do. "We might have to refocus on what we may do with him. "He'll go to the Australia Stakes in a fortnight and then we'll have to sit down and work out what we will do. "We had him nominated for the Hong Kong Sprint last December if he was going well enough, but this was the first real test he'd had against a couple of good sprinters and we can earmark some of the good sprint races for him now." Eurell hasn't ruled out a trip to England for a winter campaign in the 2008 Global Sprint Challenge for the baldy-faced five-year-old who took out the opening leg of the eight-race series today. "Nothing is set in concrete at this stage though," Eurell said. The gelding, who has now won 12 of his 26 starts with six placings for $2,120,225 in stake money, disappointed Eurell when runner-up in a recent barrier trial at Cranbourne, and had an adverse reaction to an equine influenza injection last spring. "It flattened him and we didn't have time to get him back on track for Hong Kong," the trainer said. "His blood wasn't right so we put him in the paddock at Nar Nar Goon for 10 days. "He's had an absolutely faultless preparation. Nothing has gone wrong at all. "It's good to see him bounce back. He's a tremendous horse and he just keeps doing the job every time he comes back." Apache Cat has an excellent first-up record having won four and been placed in two of his seven starts when resuming. Swick, who was beaten pointless by Gold Edition in an 800m jumpout at Flemington on Tuesday, looked likely to cause an upset, coming from last to threaten before Apache Cat arrived on the scene. Miss Finland worked home well from seventh to finish fifth and will get better when her distances are increased.
APACHE SCALPS 'EM IN LIGHTNINGSaturday 2 February 2008 http://www.globalsprintchallenge.com/english/news.htm
Cups King Bart Cummings almost made it a record eighth victory in the Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes (1000m) at Flemington with consistent sprinter Swick, however nothing was going to catch the Greg Eurell-trained Apache Cat, who pounced on his rivals with sheer brilliance. Apache Cat’s jockey Corey Brown pulled him out of the pack with 200 metres to go, to take him to a neck victory over Swick and the Colin Davies-trained Stanzout, one-and-a-half-length away in third place. “I didn’t want to hit the front too early because I’m still getting to know the horse, but he did it with ease…I like him,” said Brown. Eurell was absolutely delighted with the baldy-faced gelding’s performance and now needs to refocus on where he wants to take the horse. “He runs so well fresh. I will send him to the Australia Stakes at Moonee Valley in two weeks time, and then we’ll take it from there,” said Eurell. The favourite, Gold Edition, ran a credible fourth, however it was later reported that she pulled up lame in the near fore leg. Trainer Ron Maund later announced the grand four-year-old mare would be retired immediately. The Group 1 Coolmore Lightning Stakes kicks off the first leg of the Global Sprint Challenge, where Australian sprinters such as Choisir, Miss Andretti and Takeover Target have dominated the series in recent years. Following the running of the first leg of the 2008 Global Sprint Challenge, the points table stands as follows:
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첫댓글 호주,영국,일본,홍콩 4개국에서 열리는 스프린터시리즈 대회입니다. 우승마에게는 보너스 100만불을 지급합니다.작년도 우승마는 호주에서 가장사랑받는 2007 연도대표마가 '미스 앤드리티' 입니다. 이번 경주 1000m 직선 터프주로 기록이 0.57.25 입니다.