The last time Apache Chase and Eleven Eleven eyeballed each other was behind the barriers for the Stradbroke, and it’s a day trainers Desleigh Forster and Greg Hickman are still trying to get over.
Eleven Eleven was the Stradbroke favourite and Apache Chase was on the third line of betting, but their chances were gone at barrier rise.
Apache Chase will look to return to his tough front-running best in The Hunter at Newcastle on Saturday.Credit:Michael McInally/Racing Queensland
“Isotope went off in the gates and my horse and Apache Chase paid the penalty,” Hickman said.
“And nothing was said about it.
“We were going to lead and we missed the kick and ended up last and stayed there. It was hard to cop.”
The Stradbroke, which was won by Alligator Blood from Private Eye, had been a target race for both sprinters, as has $1million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle on Saturday, and disappointment lingers for Queenslander Forster.
“Nothing was said about what happened at the barriers, it was a joke,” she said.
“[Apache Chase] had always been a good horse from the gates and he missed it two lengths that day because of what went on. Race over.
“It was hard to take given how well he had been going.
“He hasn’t jumped in his two starts in Sydney since, so we made a couple of changes to try to get him back jumping well.”
Apache Chase and Eleven Eleven are well in the betting on the $8 line for the Hunter, and both camps believe they can return to their best.
Apache Chase’s biggest weapon has always been his speed, and he had used it for a group 1 success the start before the Stradbroke when he won the Kingsford Smith Cup from the front.
His tardiness from the gates has resulted in a barrier blanket being added, as well as pre-race ear muffs. Forster is keen to see him back in the role that he has raced best in.
“Jimmy [Byrne] knows him well and knows how to rate him out in front,” Forster said. “We just need to get back to the barrier horse he was [before the Stradbroke].
“He has only been beaten a couple of lengths in the Premiere Stakes and Sydney Stakes, probably on ground he doesn’t really like.
“We took him home, worked on his barrier manners, and hopefully we see the benefit of it on Saturday.
“He will have the ear muffs on until the last possible moment, and it has him flying from the gates at home. If he does that, gate 16 won’t be a problem and he should be outside In The Congo or in front.
“The horse is flying.”
Apache Chase goes into the Hunter third up, which is the point in his preparation where he won the Vo Rogue Stakes, and was fourth in the Golden Eagle before the forgettable Stradbroke affair.
“It has been the race we looked at and thought he would be at his top for, and he is,” Forster said. “The firm track will help as well, we just need him to jump.”
Hickman picked out The Hunter as a target for Eleven Eleven on the way to the Magic Millions in January, where the son of Fastnet Rock will look for a fourth success.
“He has shown that 1300 and 1400 is probably his best trip on good tracks, so this race stood out,” Hickman said. “Last year we used The Warra at Kembla; this time the Hunter because he is second up.
“This race fits into a similar program to last year, and he gets to run for a $1million. The draw will make it hard for him, but I think he is going well enough to run a big race.
“We have Tommy Berry to help to overcome the draw, and he will be getting home hard at the end.”
