Off the back of his last start win in the G2 VRC Blamey Stakes (1600m), Chris Waller’s 5yo Free Eagle gelding Birdman (IRE) further enhanced his G1 VRC Australian Cup (2000m) prospects with dominant victory in Saturday’s $500,000 G2 MRC Peter Young Stakes (1800m) at Caulfield.
Arguably in career best form, having never previously recorded consecutive black type successes, the 5yo was well-supported in the betting, jumping away the second favourite behind stablemate and G1 winner Buckaroo (GB).
Sporting the third set of colours of part owner Ozzie Kheir, jockey Ben Melham went forward from gate five to settle in third position with Light Infantry Man (Fr) taking up the running under Harry Coffey with the Glen Thompson trained Whisky On The Hill (GB) tracking along in second.
Racing quite a few lengths off the inside running rail, Light Infantry Man took the field into the home straight, and with Birdman pulling himself up to the leader, it was clear the gelding had plenty to offer.
When Melham asked for an effort, Birdman pulled himself clear under hands and heels riding, taking the race by a little under two lengths from the Ben Weill and JD Hayes trained Apulia who was having just his second run since his win in the G2 WATC Perth Cup (2400m) in January.
Working home well for third was Bankers Choice (NZ) ahead of Light Infantry Man who held on for fourth with Buckaroo not appearing to show the ability we know, weakening to be beaten by just under six lengths on the line.
Stable representative Lizzie Collett, highlighted what a different horse he is this time in.
“He's a different horse this prep,” said Collett. “His three runs have shown that he's absolutely on song.”
“These imports do take a while to adjust and this prep he has turned into a magnificent horse and each run has been outstanding. In the straight today, he didn't ask him until he had to and he put them away very easily."
“He's such a kind horse, a cool customer. He puts that into his races and he doesn't waste any energy pre-race and leaves it for out on the course.”
Having now recorded consecutive stakes victory on the 5yo, Melham feels the Australian Cup will really suit.
“I've had a bit to do with him this preparation and I thought early doors the way he was going he was heading in the right direction to be really competitive in an Australian Cup and the more I have to do with him, the more I think he can win it,” said Melham.
“He's been a bit of a revelation, the horse, but he's in the right stable. He may have just taken a little bit of time to acclimatise.
“He's a very relaxed customer, seeing him there now he's about to fall asleep, so he takes a bit of waking up but the ability's there with him is certainly going really well."
“I don't think the run will have hurt him at all. He just got into a lovely position, didn't sort of spend any pennies until the last 250 metres and I felt he had the race at his mercy a long way out.
“He seems to be going really well at these shorter trips. He'll be no worries at 2000, but maybe that's the way to go with him, a bit of freshness in his legs, but I'll leave that to the expert.”
With five wins and four placed efforts from 21 starts with earnings of $1,045,072, the Windflower Overseas Holdings Inc-bred Birdman is the lone stakes winner amongst three winners for the Acclamation mare Carol, from the extended family of Champion Filly Snow Fairy (Intikhab), a winner of six individual G1 races.
Birdman is the best of 16 international stakes performers 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 G1 Prince of Wales’s Stakes, Free Eagle now stands at Ireland’s Anngrove Stud.
