by Mike Curry

Apache Cat streaked to his fifth consecutive Group 1 victory on Saturday at Doomben with a dominant 4 3/4-length romp in the $630,402 Carleton Draught Doomben 10,000 (Aus-G1).

Trained by Greg Eurell for a partnership, Apache Cat saved ground from third under jockey Corey Brown as Murtajill dictated the pace in the about 1,350-meter (6.46-furlong) race. Brown angled Apache Cat to the outside of Murtajill entering the straight and the Lion Cavern gelding unleashed his explosive closing kick to seize command.

Apache Cat spurted powerfully clear and cruised to a convincing win in 1:17.99 on turf rated as good.

“He was simply awesome. It's unbelievable,” Eurell told the Australian Associated Press. “It's been a big job to keep him up for so long but he's done a terrific job.''

Apache Cat became the first Australian horse since multiple champion Tulloch to reel off five major victories in succession. Tulloch raced before the group and listed stakes classification began in 1978.

Apache Cat won the Coolmore Lightning Stakes (Aus-G1) on February 2 at Flemington, the Timbercorp Australia Stakes (Aus-G1) on February 16 at Moonee Valley, and the Sydney City Lexus T. J. Smith Stakes (Aus-G1) on April 26 at Randwick. He entered the Doomben 10,000 off a victory in the Jacobs Creek Sparkling BTC Cup (Aus-G1) on May 10 at Doomben.

“You can go to the well too often, but I will spell him here in Queensland for six weeks before getting him ready for the spring in Melbourne,” Eurell said of Apache Cat, who is out of the Whiskey Road mare Tennessee Blaze. “He'll have two runs in the spring, including the Age Classic [Victoria Racing Club Stakes (Aus-G1)] down the straight six, and then we'll take him overseas for the [Cathay Pacific] Hong Kong Sprint (HK-G1).

“After Hong Kong, there's a genuine chance he may go to Europe next year, especially after what we've seen what Takeover Target does internationally.”

The Age Classic is slated for November 8 at Flemington and the Hong Kong Sprint will be run at Sha Tin Racecourse in December.

Murtajill held off Turffontein by a half-length for second.

Mike Curry is Thoroughbred Times TODAY editor