A Magic Millions bid awaits boom colt Amazing Eagle if he can bring his barrier trial form to race day when he makes his highly anticipated debut at Randwick.
A $400,000 yearling purchase, the son of Capitalist created a big impression at his only trial appearance, not only taking out his heat by 7-1/2 lengths, but recording a sub 54-second time over the Rosehill 900 metres.
It is rare for a two-year-old to go under that mark, but trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou want to see him produce a similar performance in Saturday’s James Squire Handicap (1100m) before being anything but cautiously optimistic.
“They very rarely do (run that time), and he ran the fastest time of the morning by three-quarters of a second,” Ryan said.
“A lot of the experts and trial watchers rated his trial really highly.
“But they’ve got to do it on race day. He’s got to go 900 (metres) to 1100 (metres) and he’s never been away from Rosehill before. He is a tractable horse though, or he is at home anyway, and he’s always been easy to get along with.”
The youngster is raced by former champion Hong Kong trainer John Moore, who Ryan got to know during the legendary conditioner’s brief stint at Rosehill a few years ago.
Ryan and Alexiou have only been preparing horses for Moore over the past 18 months and they were thrilled to pick up Amazing Eagle, who they had admired at the yearling sales.
“I was only too pleased when John rang me in March and asked me to train him,” Ryan said.
“John is a book of knowledge, a very, very knowledgeable bloke.
“He is one of the best owners I’ve trained for. He leaves you alone, he sends you a nice horse, he discusses things with you.”
Amazing Eagle will be ridden by Tim Clark and was a prohibitive $1.55 favourite on Thursday with top wagering apps.
Ryan confirmed the youngster would almost certainly head towards next month’s Magic Millions Classic (1200m) at the Gold Coast if he lived up to expectations, but the experienced horseman said it would be a nervous wait until then.
“I don’t know whether I’m excited, more anxious to see whether he can do it on race day,” Ryan said.
“It will also help us get a line on a couple of others at home that we think go quite well.
“He’s not screwed down, so you’d think on what we’ve done with him and the way he’s going to the races that win, lose or draw, he will improve.”