Apache Chase kicked off his preparation for the fast-approaching Brisbane Winter Carnival with a trial win at Deagon on Tuesday morning.
The Desleigh Forster-trained gelding stepped out in Trial 6 over 1050m and led all of the way to win under Jim Byrne, defeating the unbeaten Orbisyn by half a length.
The four-year-old son of Better Than Ready is set to line up on May 7 at Rockhampton for the inaugural running of The Archer (1300m), before being set for the Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) on June 11 at Eagle Farm.
The AU$1.5 million earner did everything he was out to do at the trials on Tuesday morning, with Forster telling HorseBetting.com.au that she was pleased with how the horse worked.
“He was good – he was out to have a nice soft trial,” she said.
“He wasn't out there to set any records, he was just out there to do his own thing and that's have a nice soft trial.”
With one more potential trial to be run next week, Apache Chase will use The Archer to springboard into the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup (1300m), before heading to the Stradbroke.
The gelding won his way into the Stradbroke through The Gateway back in December, so it will be a much more timely assault on the Brisbane feature this time around.
“He may trial again next week,” Forster said.
“We'll just have a look at him through the week and decide, but he may have another one next Tuesday.
“He's exempt from the ballot, so he's already got a spot in the Stradbroke. He just goes to The Archer to the Kingsford Smith and then to the Stradbroke.”
Apache Chase is currently a +1400 chance with online bookmakers for both the Kingsford Smith Cup and the Stradbroke Handicap.