Greg Eurell, trainer of Australia Stakes favourite Apache Cat, will head to Moonee Valley on Saturday supremely confident of another Group One victory.
Apache Cat, a crowd favourite because of his distinctive facial markings, has 'not missed a beat', according to Eurell, since his barnstorming first-up win in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington on February 2.
"I think if anything the run's helped him along and he's trained on. I can't fault him at this stage," Eurell said on Friday.
With Eurell certain the five-year-old, who is a $2.20 favourite (Sportingbet) for the race, can handle Moonee Valley, where he has a second in a Feehan Stakes and a Cox Plate failure next to his name, it seems only an unlucky run from gate two can stop the gelding from winning.
"Ideally we'd like to get off the fence and give him every opportunity to blend into the race like we do in the past," said Eurell, who predicted Apache Cat would settle fourth or fifth in the run.
"That will be the only concern that he gets locked away and doesn't get the opportunity to finish the race off."
Perth sprinter Let Go Thommo, a last start winner of the same course and distance in the Group Two Norman Carlyon Stakes, will be ready to pounce should Apache Cat not enjoy a clear run.
"I don't think he's up to the class of the best sprinters here like Miss Andretti, Apache Cat and Gold Edition," said former trainer Steven Ryan, who is still taking care of the sprinter despite the horse now racing officially under the name of Simon Zahra.
"But with a bit of luck in the running he will be competitive and he might be able to sneak one."
Cranbourne trainer Colin Davies, a self-confessed battler, said his sprinter Stanzout, an $8 chance on the back of his third in the Lightning, would again be competitive on Saturday.
"A lot of people say to me 'why do I put him in the deep end but every time I do he puts his best foot forward and he shows something," Davies said.
"He hasn't actually won a Group One yet but he's knocking on the door and to be a part of these big races is just a buzz for me."
"I've been a battler for a long time so for people like myself in my position, I bred that horse and to win a Group One, you just dream of those things. It'll be beautiful."