Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou are hopeful Grand Eagle’s dominant midweek victory is a sign of even more success to come as their two-year-old team lines up for day two of The Championships.
Grand Eagle was impressive at Hawkesbury on Wednesday, taking out the Good Luck Paris Eaton Handicap (1100m) by 1-1/4 lengths in just his third race start.
He had shown talent in his earlier runs but struggled with blinkers last time out, an issue Alexiou said they’ve now rectified.
“He ran off the track at Warwick Farm at his first start so we put the shades on to try to help straighten him up and concentrate on things a bit better. It just backfired on us,” Alexiou told Sky Racing.
“He was at his top the whole race (at Newcastle) and never finished off, which was the first time that had ever happened. The last furlong is normally his best.
“Nash (Rawiller) rode a really patient race on him today and he was strong through the line.”
Connections will monitor Grand Eagle before deciding if he continues racing or goes to the paddock to prepare for a spring campaign.
“I loved him today. He got to show his turn of foot. I shut him straight down early and he’s a horse that will really go on with the job now, I reckon,” Rawiller said.
Next up for the stable is the $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, where they’ll be represented by Dream Side, Sequista, and Pleasure Queen.
Dream Side will face Memo again after finishing behind her in the Magic Night Stakes. Sequista returns from a break after placing in the Inglis Nursery (1100m).
“Sequista beat Bjorn Baker’s filly, Within The Law and Memo in a trial on Friday. She has done enormous,” Gerald Ryan said.
“Dream Side has done terrific too. We gave her a week in the paddock and she worked nicely on (Saturday) morning.
“Pleasure Queen will go there too. She won on debut and didn’t have much luck at her next start.”
Ryan and Alexiou have already claimed seven juvenile wins this season, including feature victories with Skyhook in the Pago Pago and King Of Pop in the Black Opal Stakes.
