Having not won a race since May 2024 when trained in Ireland, connections would’ve been holding their breath in the final few strides of the Group 3 ATC Kingston Town Stakes (2000m) with Chirs Waller’s Birdman (IRE) (Free Eagle) getting his head down when it mattered, securing his second black type victory.
Dropping considerably in weight from his last start fifth in the Gr2 Chelmsford Stakes, Birdman was well supported in the betting, jumping away as the third favourite behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained pair of Vauban (Fr) (Galiway) and Elamaz (IRE) (Gleneagles).
With the Chris Waller trained Full Count Felicia (USA) (War Front) jumping away swiftly from the gates and heading to the lead in a pattern that was similar to when she raced overseas, Birdman was getting a lovely run two pairs back on the inside of Adelaide River (IRE) (Australia).
With the pace solid throughout due to Full Count Felicia stringing the field out, the Group 1-winning mare held a two length margin on her rivals as she entered the home straight, but it was clear it was going to be short lived.
As last season’s Champion Stayer Arapaho (Lope de Vega) set out after the leader, Birdman was sticking to the fence as Adelaide River was commencing his run down the outside.
With Arapaho clearly not having the sprint of the other two, Birdman and Adelaide River went stride for stride over the final 200m, with the Waller trained Birdman getting the verdict one the line.
Narrowly in second, and showing a great return to form was Adelaide River, with the winner's stablemate Etna Rosso (IRE) (Decorated Knight) coming from the tail of the field to finish in third.
"It is (overdue) from a punter's perspective. From our perspective, he's just steadily been working towards something. But he needed to start doing it,” said Waller.
"His fresh up runs were good, he got to a more suitable distance today and had a lovely draw, a nice run in transit, and yeah, a good confident ride."
With the Metropoloitan looking a logical next step, Waller said he would first speak to Ozzie Khier and the ownership group before any decisions are made.
“I'll have a talk to connections. They are great tacticians and planners of races, so I use their knowledge a lot.
“Logically, he's heading the right way towards the Cups - that's what he was brought for a year out, and it's coming together nicely for him."
Holding nominations to the Group 1 ATC The Metropolitan (2400m), Group 1 MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m) and the Group 1 VRC Melbourne Cup (3200m), Birdman’s victory took his record to three wins and four placed performances from 13 starts with overall earnings of $417,097.
Bred by Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc, Birdman is the lone stakes winner amongst three winners for the Acclamation mare Carol, from the extending family of Champion Filly Snow Fairy (Intikhab), a winner of six individual Group 1 races.
Birdman is one of seven stakes winners for the High Chaparral stallion Free Eagle (IRE), who interestingly shuttled to South Australia’s Cornerstone Stud for three seasons where he covered 171 mares.
A winner of the Group 1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Free Eagle now stands at Ireland’s Anngrove Stud.
