Apache Chase confirmed for The Archer field

Apache Chase is the first runner to be confirmed for The Archer … regional Queensland’s richest race of the year … which will be contested over 1300m at Rockhampton on May 7.

Modelled on the same ‘slot holder’ runner selection concept as The Everest, the new race offers $440,000 in prize-money with the winner pocketing $275, 000.

In January, trainer Desleigh Forster had already indicated that she had received interest from some slot holders with regard to Apache Chase taking up The Archer challenge, and it has now been confirmed by the big race hosts, the Rocky Amateurs, that slot holders K and P McPhail have secured the smart Better Than Ready gelding as their runner.

Apache Chase’s entry already sets a high bar the calibre of horse that other slot holders will need to select if they are to be competitive.

The four-year-old has won eight of his twenty starts … with his victories including wins in the Group 3 Vo Rogue, the Group 3 Fred Best, the Listed Daybreak Lover and the Listed Weetwood.

Another very important win came in The Gateway, an Open Handicap at Eagle Farm, a result which gave Apache Chase a ballot free entry into the $1.5 million Stradbroke Handicap later this year.

Apache Chase’s galloping prowess though is arguably displayed just as well by some of his non-winning runs … such as his second place to Private Eye in the Group 2 Queensland Guineas, when less than a length off the winner, his third place behind Isotope in the Gold Edition, his third place finish when only 0.25 lengths behind Eleven Eleven in the Magic Millions Cup … and his fourth place finish when only 1.75 lengths behind I’m Thunderstruck in the Golden Eagle.

Over the last twelve months, while being tested in the sort of strong company mentioned above, Apache Chase only finished out of the first four in two of the twelve starts he contested in that time.

Clearly Apache Chase is a worthy selection by his slot holder for the big race … which should usher in some exciting times for the connections of Apache Chase as, after his assignment in The Archer, Apache Chase is expected to be further primed to move on to the Kingsford Smith Cup on May 28 and then on to his Grand Finale in the Stradbroke on June 11.