Improving second up from a spell, Chris Waller’s 5yo Free Eagle gelding Birdman (IRE) highlighted his G1 ATC Australian Cup (2000m) prospects with an impressive victory in Saturday’s $300,000 G2 VRC Blamey Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
Jumping away well, Melham allowed the gelding to find his feet early, settling in seventh position on the outside with noted leader Air Assault under Damian Lane going forward to take up the lead.
With his head on his chest, Air Assault led at an even tempo with some of those back in the field starting look as if they might find it hard to make up late ground.
Coming to the outside into the straight, Melham asked Birdman for an effort where the gelding set out after the leaders, nabbing Air Assault with 250m to go, before pulling away for a dominant win, eased down on the line to score by a length and three quarters.
Enxuto ran on well for second, with 100/1 stayer Mark Twain (NZ) producing an excellent first up run for the Phillip Stokes yard to finish a narrow third.
Beadman, who was representing the Waller stable, was pleased to see that Melham had followed the riding instructions.
“Last start it didn't work out from the inside draw, but today he held his line out of the gates,” Beadman said.
“He wasn't the best to step away, but he kept that three wide line and dictated to a few runners around him.
“He let them know he wasn't going to go over to the fence. He was seven lengths off the lead, and it was a pretty easy watch."
“He arrived in Australia about a year-and-a-half or two years ago with good credentials and a couple of wins, including the Queen's Vase," Beadman said.
“The owners were hoping to aim for the Melbourne Cup. He's been very consistent and his was a great run in the Caulfield Cup last year.
“I guess, without speaking to Chris, the Australian Cup will probably be the ideal type of race for him.”
Melham indicated that Birdman took a lot of confidence out of his first up run when finishing fourth in the Listed Elms Handicap (1400m).
“I feel that he will go to a new level this preparation,” Melham said.
“I love the feeling when he let down today.
“He's a master, Chris Waller. This horse has really come into his own this preparation and he's a gentleman to deal with and he's got a motor to boot.
“That will hold him in good stead moving forward.”
With four wins (three at black type) and four placed efforts from 19 starts with earnings of $742,572, the Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc-bred 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 G1 races.
Birdman is one of seven stakes winners for the High Chaparral stallion Free Eagle (IRE), who 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.
