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The Desleigh Forster-trained Apache Chase has cemented a berth in the Stradbroke Handicap.
Local three-year-old Apache Chase has claimed the scalp of boom Victorian Ayrton and booked his spot in the Stradbroke Handicap with a game victory in the Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm.
His delighted trainer Desleigh Forster said she went into the race full of confidence despite the presence of the previously unbeaten Ayrton, who was sent around an odds-on favourite.
"This horse is a good horse. He makes his own luck, gets out and does the hard yards," Forster said.
"I didn't come here hoping, I was very confident coming here today."
Apache Chase won the Daybreak Lover over Saturday's 1400 metre course two starts ago and Forster said the soft track was against him last start when runner-up to Private Eye in the Queensland Guineas.
His victory in Saturday's Fred Best Classic has earned him a ticket into the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 12.
"He got beat here the other day at a mile and if it had of been a dry track, I still think he would have won. We just thought the wet track softened him up a bit," Forster said.
"As long as he pulls up good, we will go to the big dance in two weeks and then we'll have to sit down and find somebody to ride 49-1/2 (kilos)."
Jim Byrne rated Apache Chase ($11) to a tee and the horse pulled out all stops when the challengers came, clinging to victory by a head over Ayrton ($1.50 fav), who tried hard but could not run down the winner.
Amish Boy ($16) flashed along the inside to grab third another short half-head away.
While Byrne will be unable to make Apache Chase's Stradbroke weight, he believes the three-year-old will be hard to beat in the Queensland feature.
"It's always great to get a winner but this horse is really special to Desleigh's stable. I'm just so chuffed for her to have a horse who I believe is a real live chance in a race like the Stradbroke," Byrne said.
"This prep he should nearly be unbeaten. I made a few mistakes on him previously and his last start in the Guineas, I have no doubt he should have won that race."
