Eagle Falls will defend his Oakleigh Plate crown after posting his first win since last year’s feature in the Rubiton Stakes at Caulfield.
Trainer David Hayes expected an improved performance from the six-year-old after an extended spell and the gelding rose to the occasion in Saturday’s 1100-metre Group Three sprint with a last to first performance.
Hayes blamed a lingering bug from the autumn and too much exposure to Black Caviar for the star sprinter’s form lapse last spring but now has him on target to be the first horse to win successive Oakleigh Plates since Dual Choice (1971-72).
“The eagle lifted,” said Hayes who was sporting a Black Caviar tie to celebrate the unbeaten champion mare’s 18th win in the Orr Stakes win in the previous race.
Ironically Black Caviar was responsible for setting Eagle Falls’ career back when she gave him three confidence-sapping beatings, the last time in last year’s Newmarket Handicap.
“She was just too fast for him and he gave up,” Hayes said.
He said Eagle Falls also suffered a virus in the late autumn and he couldn’t shake it last spring resulting in his worst-ever campaign.
“We were playing catch up the whole time so we gave him a good spell,” Hayes said.
“He is a brilliant trackworker and we knew if he reproduced it today he would go close.”
Expected leader Karuta Queen missed the start after the race was held up by noted barrier rogue Here De Angels who was a late scratching.
After misbehaving for more than one trainer in Victoria, Here De Angels was barred but subsequently cleared to race by Racing NSW stewards.
After his antics on Saturday he was again banned indefinitely with Victorian stewards to study his NSW record.
Jockey Dwayne Dunn said that with Karuta Queen missing the start and settling back it took a lot of speed out of the race which probably helped Eagle Falls who was back with her.
Eagle Falls swung out to force a path rounding the home turn and sustained a strong finishing run to the 50 metres where Dunn urged him to the lead to go on and score a three-quarter length win over First Command.
Hot Spin, who raced on the speed with First Command, held on to finish third 2-1/4 lengths away, edging out Karuta Queen who made ground to finish fourth.