If Apache Blue is no glamour puss, he must surely be the most striking, uniquely-coloured racehorse in Australia - and he won like a champion at Tuncurry Forster Jockey Club's Seafood Race Day on Saturday, January 16.
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The three-year-old bay gelding with the eerie, even 'spooky', grey-blue eyes, looks as though he waded up to his knees in a pond of wet, white paint and dipped his head in it.
Perhaps his name emanates from the war paint some Indian Apache warriors once applied to themselves before going into battle.
Not for Apache Blue was there a first start in a Magic Millions race on the Gold Coast.
He was a starter in racing's backwaters of Tuncurry Forster Jockey Club's Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club Maiden Plate, second favourite to McGrady (2/1).
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And the reason that an unraced three-year-old bay gelding with distinctive markings was at such a prohibitively short price of 3/5 after three unplaced Central Coast barrier trials - including at Gosford where he ran last of nine starters - was the identity of the trainer not there to watch him perform.
Of all the thoroughbreds for bookmakers to be wary of was an unknown maiden performer from the stable of Newcastle's champion thoroughbred trainer, Kris Lees, unsighted at trackside with presumably more important duties at a metropolitan racecourse.
So they opened 'Blue' up at a cautious 7/2 and, despite no significant plunge, posting an isolated 4/1, they kept his odds short all afternoon.
Something from Lees' stable, a bookie remarked suspiciously, was where there was smoke, there must be fire.
Their judgement proved correct.
Ridden decisively by Dylan Gibbons, Apache Blue jumped well, led the nine-horse field early and stormed home to win by almost three lengths to claim the $5,850 winner's prizemoney - and the plate.
Sired by Unencumbered from Emerald Command, Apache Blue may not be a Golden Slipper prospect, but from his finish, this maiden event will not be his last victory.
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Club president Garry McQuillan was ecstatic with the 2000 spectator crowd and the cash takings, which he said were larger than for any previous cup meeting at the course.
"It was a fantastic day. After the pandemic we had last year, Australians just want to get out of their homes, open up their shoulders and enjoy themselves again," he said.
"And that's what they did at Tuncurry race course on Saturday."
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