He just missed out on gaining a slot in the $15 million Everest, but the Desleigh Forster-prepared Apache Chase will be out to show his wares in next Saturday’s $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle.

The Better Than Ready gelding proved he was more than up to the elite level when he took out the Group 1 Kingsford Smith Cup at Eagle Farm back in May, beating well-rated campaigners such as Private Eye, Paulele, Rothfire, Ellsberg and Laws Of Indices. All of those horses have since gone on to run some massive races over the spring.

Apache Chase then had two runs in Sydney during October, not being disgraced in the Group 2 Premiere Stakes and Group 3 Sydney Stakes on unfit surfaces.

Forster believes he should be cherry-ripe now for the Newcastle feature, and is hopeful of better conditions.

“We took him down to Sydney and he run in the Premiere and then we took him back and run in the Sydney Stakes,” Forster said.

“Probably the track there was a little bit wet and he was just doing a couple of little things wrong.

“So we take him home and done a bit of work and give him a month between runs.

“He races best when he’s nice and fresh.”

Forster is well aware of the quality in the Australian sprinting ranks at present, but is more than happy enough to have her charger on her side going into the newly created contest.

“The sprinting races are quite strong, so he’s proven he is up to those sorts of horses,” Forster said.

“He was only beaten a length and a half the other day (behind Rocketing By in the Sydney Stakes) on an unsuitable track, so he’s going really good.

“We’ll take him to Newcastle, 1300m, perfect track and then we’ll take him home and get him ready for the King Of The Mountain.”

The Hunter ran its inaugural race in 2019 with Godolphin’s Savatiano getting the victory. It has since been won by John Thompson’s Sweet Deal in 2020 and John O’Shea’s Lost And Running last year.

As of Sunday, the TAB had Waihaha Falls installed as $4.50 favourite with Apache Chase currently sitting at $15.