The third emergency, Loch Eagle showed he was worthy of his place with a barnstorming win in the $2,000,000 Group II The Ingham (1600m), which seems fitting as a son of the Ingham family’s beloved Lonhro.
Ridden by Dylan Gibbons for Kris Lees, Loch Eagle went one better than his last start second in the $1,000,000 The Gong, to defeat the $3,000,000 The Big Dance winner Attractable (I Am Invincible) by a half-neck with Lion’s Roar (Contributer) the same distance back in third.
It earned Loch Eagle a ballot exemption for the $4,000,000 Group 1 Doncaster Mile next April.
“It’s great to win with Dylan for a good bunch of owners,” Lees said.
“At 7.29 am, he hadn’t gained a start, and he was just about to have a gallop, and we were going to prepare for a race next Saturday.
“The phone call came through, and he had to overcome a wide gate. Early in the run, I thought he was going to be posted, but he got him in three deep with cover.
“It was a lovely ride, presented him at the right time and was able to get there on the line.
“He was good the other day in The Gong. Again, from a bad gate, he was posted with a similar run but no cover, and it took its toll late, but it seasoned him for today.
“He’s been a good horse. He got run down in the Provincial Final earlier in the year, and he’s a really good Randwick horse.”
A 230,000 purchase for Bruce Perry Bloodstock Ltd (BAFNZ) from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Loch Eagle advances his record to six wins, five seconds, and two thirds, from 25 starts with earnings of $1,789,315.
Bred by Nick Vass, the 5-year-old son of Lonhro is the best of three winners from four to race for the Shamardal (USA) mare Song Street (IRE).
Purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $450,000 at the 2013 National Broodmare Sale, Song Street (IRE) is a half-sister to Octagonal’s best European performer, dual Group 1 winner Laverock, and to Miss Right Note (IRE), dam of champion Pierro and Group II Wakeful Stakes winner Ambience.
Purchased by Justin Carey for $7,500 on Inglis Digital in 2022, Song Street (IRE) has a 2-year-old sister to Loch Eagle and has missed in the last two seasons.
Loch Eagle is the 96th stakes-winner for Lonhro, who was pensioned at Darley earlier in the year after 19 seasons of faithful service.
