You can expect Apache Chase to be carving out a quicker early sectional than the 37.24 seconds he ran for his first 600m when unplaced at Eagle Farm a fortnight ago when he returns to the same venue for Saturday’s Listed Daybreak Lover Plate.
Trainer Desleigh Forster felt jockey Jim Byrne should have increased the tempo last start, a race in which the official final sectional time was 33.91 on a day where they weren’t running quick times.
Out to 1400m on Saturday, Forster said punters can expect to see the free wheeling gelding who ran his rivals into the ground winning the Group 3 Vo Rogue Plate over the same course in early January.
“Jimmy just went too slow in early sections (last start). They ran 37 the first three, way too slow for him. That’s what we put it down to,” Forster said.
“He’s a horse a bit like Georgie’s Pride (an Eagle Farm winner again on Wednesday), they like to get in a rhythm, roll along at a good clip early and they just keep rolling along.
“They don’t quicken, they keep going at a good tempo.”
An extra 200m and back to set weights are two other factors Forster suggested punters should consider when assessing Apache Chase’s chances this week.
“He did have 61 kilos, which is 62 kilos, which is a lot of weight,” she said.
“I am happy with his work in the last week, he worked very well (Tuesday) morning.
“Back down to set weights, Eagle Farm up to 1400m which is his pet distance, he should bounce back.”
Apache Chase was very good over the summer and ran bravely to finish fourth in the Magic Millions Guineas after being attacked in front.
However he’s failed to fire in two runs back, having preceded his latest Eagle Farm fourth with a well-beaten 11th in the QTIS Jewel last month on heavy ground at the Gold Coast.
“His run at the Coast was a wipeout. It was very gluey that day,” Forster said.
“The old story is fast horses on fast tracks and that’s probably him.
“Back to Eagle Farm, set weights, 1400m, everything is perfect for him.”
Forster is also tentatively mapping out loftier targets for Georgie’s Pride, who was once again a class above her rivals at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.
The filly will race again in another fortnight, with the trainer comfortable giving her a chance against better class rivals over the coming Stradbroke Season.
