Target's jockey to arrive soon

Takeover Target's regular jockey Jay Ford will arrive in Perth from Singapore next Wednesday three days before riding the veteran in the G2 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

Trainer Joe Janiak said Ford would ride the nine-year-old on Thursday morning.

Janiak said Takeover Target would be primed for his first-up assignment on Saturday week.

"(I'm) very happy with his two trials, he's done it on the bridle, we haven't asked him to really flatten out yet," he said.

John Baker, travelling foreman for trainer Greg Eurell, could not be happier with Apache Cat's conditioning.

"I'm extremely happy. He is very, very well. I wish the race was tomorrow," Baker said.

"He's just got to tick over, and do everything right and he'll be very competitive next Saturday."

Baker confirmed jockey Corey Brown would fly over to Perth next week to ride the six-year-old in the Winterbottom.

Apache Cat was a shock first-up failure on November 8 at Flemington in the G1 Patinack Farm Classic, putting on hold a tilt at next month's Hong Kong Sprint.