Kia Ora Stud’s Golden Slipper winning sire Farnan is making every post a winner and added an eighth winner to his tally at the metro meeting at Hawkesbury on Wednesday when Grand Eagle saluted at his third start.
Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexious, Grand Eagle had fitness and race experience on his side with a debut second at Warwick Farm last month followed by a fourth to subsequent Group I ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes place-getter Buffalo at Newcastle.
Ridden quietly this time by Nash Rawiller, Grand Eagle was doing his best work to the line and despite racing greenly was able to win the 1200m dash by more than a length.
“We probably just tried to force something from him his first couple of starts, just went back to the drawing board, rode him quiet and gave him a chance to hit the line,” said Sterling Alexiou, with the decision to take his blinkers off proving a wise move.
“He ran off the track there at Warwick Farm at his first start. We put the shades on after that to just to try and help him straighten him up and concentrate on things a bit better and it just sort of backfired on us. He was sort of at his top the whole race last start and never finished off, which is the first time that's ever happened.
“Normally his last furlong is his best. So Nash rode a real patient race on him today and he was strong through the line.
“We'll just see how he pulls up now. He's had quite a big prep. If he comes through this race well, we might think about one more, but he could be a horse with a good break, might improve a lot into a spring campaign.”
Nash Rawiller believes there is more to come from Grand Eagle.
“He's always shown a lot of talent. He jumps well, puts himself in a spot, and it's probably been his undoing a little bit because just through his own tenacity, he's been leaving himself a bit empty late and doing a few things wrong too and still is, but he'll be all right as he goes along,” said Rawiller.
“I loved him today. He got to show his turn of foot after I shut him straight down early. He's ready to go on with the job now, I reckon.”
A $300,000 Inglis Classic purchase from Valiant Stud for George Moore Bloodstock, Grand Eagle is a half-brother to stakes-winner Chilled and is the second winner from three to race from well bred Pierro mare Sauvignon, who comes from the family of Group I MRC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Catchy.
Sauvignon produced another filly by Farnan last spring before going to Anamoe.
Farnan is the sire of Group III winning colts North England and King of Pop as well as Group III winning filly Recuperato, who has accepted for the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes at Randwick this Saturday.
