Making his first start since winning the Group 1 Alqoz Sprint during the Dubai World Cup Carnival in March, Godolphin's Jungle Cat (IRE) put a dent in Australian pride when he edged out For Dollar and Land Of Plenty in Saturday's Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield.
A first Group 1 feature in the antipodes for trainer Charlie Appleby and jockey James Doyle, Jungle Cat (IRE) did best in a driving finish to defeat Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral) by a half-head with Land Of Plenty (Stratum) a half-head back in third. (photos Grant Courtney)
The 7yo son of Iffraaj has been a model of consistency throughout his 31-start career that has yielded 8 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds with earnings of $2,276,704.
"It's been a fantastic season and it's all down to the team," Appleby said.
"It's great to have a Group 1 winner here. It was a fantastic ride by James. There was plenty of pace on, more than I'd thought there would be. James followed Home Of The Brave around and once James levelled him out and got stuck into him, the old cat is not for lying down and he dug deep.
"It was always our plan after the Alqoz to come here because there are not that many Group 1 1400 metre races in Europe and the ground is always on the easy side in France where potentially we would take him.
"I'm delighted for the horse. He deserves his Group 1's, he has been so consistent all his life."
Bred by Darley, Jungle Cat (IRE) is out of the stakes-winning Forest Wildcat mare Mike's Wildcat, who is also the dam of the Grade III-placed Texas Wildcatter (Monarchos).
Jungle Cat is her seventh foal and she has produced another dual winner in Wild Approach (Approve) but has not had a foal since 2014.
