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By Ray Hickson

Trainer Desleigh Forster and her gun four-year-old Apache Chase are no strangers to taking a scalp or two on the racecourse and that means she fears nobody in Saturday’s $7.5m XXXX Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.

The $50,000 purchase downed early Golden Eagle favourite Ayrton during the Brisbane winter carnival and Forster is looking forward to a rematch with Private Eye after he split that horse and subsequent Group 1 winner Kukeracha in the Queensland Guineas.

Forster has had her sights set on a shot at the $4.1 million first prizemoney since the winter and with two wins from as many starts this time in she said he arrives in Sydney at his peak with an unbeaten third-up record.

“We’re pretty excited about it all,’’ she said.

“It’s a lot of money, we’re going there with a horse that makes his own luck and gives himself every chance. He’s very genuine and he never runs a bad race.”

Since the winter, Forster said Apache Chase has developed nicely and his strong last start win at Eagle Farm has her keen to go up against Private Eye again.

“Private Eye is a good horse but I don’t think there is much between them,’’ she said.

“It was a mile the day we took him on and we went quite keen in front, were taken on and softened up pretty early and Private Eye came from a long way back and did a good job to win.

“Our horse is probably matured more and he’s a bit more relaxed now.”

Apache Chase wins at Eagle Farm on October 9

There isn’t a lot between the two horses in the betting as well, Apache Chase has been a firmer since the barrier draw and was $7 with TAB on Thursday and pressing his rival for second favouritism.

Jim Byrne is a key factor in the horse’s chances, Forster said, having been on board in his past eight starts for four wins.

She said from a tactical point of view Byrne’s judgment is going to be crucial.

“We’re happy if something else wants to lead, Jimmy knows this horse backwards so he will ride him in his comfort zone,’’ Forster said.

“There’s a couple with speed underneath me that will probably roll forward so hopefully we can just get a nice run and things fall into place for him.

“Jim knows when to push the button and he will run the 1500m out no issue at all.”

Byrne and Forster kick off Golden Eagle day with consistent mare Georgie’s Pride in The Agency Real Estate Handicap (1200m).

The travelling companion for Apache Chase has won six of her 14 starts and while she has 61kg the trainer said the fact there’s not a large spread in the weights is a plus.

“She’s a nice big mare, she’s bigger than Apache Chase, who has gone through her grades,’’ she said.

“She puts herself up on the speed. I elected to go to the fillies and mares race (over the open 1200m BM 78) because it looked like the other race is going to be a high pressure race.

“She raced against the open class horses last start and I reckon the trip away will do her well.”

Georgie’s Pride was a $5 chance with TAB on Thursday.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Golden Eagle meeting at Rosehill