American Eagle soars into Group 1 calculations
Image: American Eagle, Credit: Racing Photos
The Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) or the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) lie in prospect for American Eagle (Too Darn Hot) after the colt became his surging sire’s latest Australian black type winner on Saturday.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt went into Saturday’s McNeil Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) for three-year-olds at Caulfield six weeks after making a winning debut for the MyRacehorse syndicate.
While that 0.8-length victory came in a modest midweek Sandown two-year-old handicap on a heavy 9, punters saw enough to make him a heavily backed $3.20 favourite for his rise to Group company at start two in the McNeil.
And the near black colt didn’t disappoint.
Jumping from gate one of ten for Mark Zahra, American Eagle settled behind the leader under an even tempo. Once a gap appeared on straightening, the colt drove through it to take what became a decisive lead.
While he was tiring late on a soft 6 track, he held on by 0.2 lengths from the fast-finishing Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Unit Five (Supido), the $5.50 second favourite.
Another Ciaron Maher-trained colt, Seraphox (Harry Angel) took third at $17 for his second straight stakes placing at start number four.
American Eagle is now on the fifth line of betting at $11 for the Coolmore at Flemington on October 31, but is an $8 second favourite for the Caulfield Guineas on October 10, behind $4.50 chance Tron Bolt (Toronado).
Sam Freedman said the colt’s spring targets were still to be decided, adding another possibility was Rosehill’s Golden Rose (Gr 1, 1400m) on September 26, for which he’s at $26.
“Our plan was always to go to the Guineas Prelude, but he’s pretty brilliant,” he said.
“He’s got a nice turn of foot, he can take up a spot. You’re aiming for either a Coolmore or a Guineas, but we’ll let the dust settle and see how he pulls up.
“One thing I’d say as well, he’s won on soft ground in the winter and it’s probably got a bit of give today. So we still want to tick a box on firm ground, but he’s progressive.
“He took up a spot, he settled well. He’s got a great brain on him.
“He’ll give himself a chance to run a mile if we want to go that way. I thought he was knocking up probably the last 50 metres today. He was probably just ready for the six [furlongs].
“So whether we push on, a Prelude, and then whether you pivot and go to the Guineas or whether you freshen and go to the Coolmore.”
Asked whether a Sydney mission was an option, Freedman said: “For sure. You’ve got a Golden Rose there. There’s probably more seasoned horses at that point in time going to that sort of race but the fact he can take up a spot is going to hold him in good stead once he gets out in trip, if he does get to a mile in time, and the 1400 metres is a nice stepping stone.
“So we’ve got some decisions to make.”
Freedman said American Eagle had always impressed in the stable.
“It’s the time of year that you’re hoping to have horses like these, particularly colts going to these sorts of races,” he said.
“Anthony had a good opinion of this horse very early days up in Sydney. That’s been vindicated; the horse has come down here and shown class at home.
“He looks the real deal so hopefully he’ll keep getting better.”
Zahra was hugely impressed after partnering American Eagle for the first time.
“He’s a very nice horse,” he said. “He jumped really quick and then nearly fell over after that, but he picked himself up and I got to the front a fair way out.
“Good job to battle on. He went again when the other horse [Unit Five] came to me. There’s a heap of improvement to come. He’s got a very bright spring ahead of him.”
Asked if American Eagle would see out the 1600 metres of the Guineas, Zahra said: “I think so. He’s pretty sharp but he’s on the right path first-up. You head that way and he’ll be on the right path.
“He’s still very green, he’s got a lot to learn, but he’s very tractable. Every race he’ll get better. When the grand final comes hopefully he’s at his best.”
Bred by Yulong, American Eagle is the third foal of Awake The Stars (Redoute’s Choice), a six-time winning daughter of New Zealand Group 2 victor My Chicharita (Towkay).
Awake The Stars now has a two-year-old colt by Yulong’s Grunt (O’Reilly) who hasn’t gone to public auction, and was covered last spring by Widden Victoria’s King Colorado (Kingman).
American Eagle became the 17th Australian black type winner for Darley’s shuttling sensation Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) from 177 runners, at 9.6 per cent – easily bettering his global mark of 6.7 per cent.
The ten-year-old stands at Darley Kelvinside this spring for Australia’s equal second-highest service fee of $275,000 (inc GST), unchanged from last year.