Off the back of a recent jumpout victory, the Clayton Douglas trained Too Darn Hot (GB) colt American Eagle came with a well-timed run to topple the race favourite, recording an impressive winning debut in the opening race at Sandown on Wednesday.
Sporting the MyRacehorse silks we have come to know via their G1-winning graduates Just Fine, Willydoit and Apocalyptic, American Eagle was well-supported in the market, jumping away from well from barrier three in the eight horse field.
Jockey Jamie Mott let a few go around him, settling mid-field withTony and Calvin McEvoy's race favourite Judas Tree going forward to take up the running for Godolphin.
With Judas Tree taking the field into the home straight, the son of Blue Point kicked a few lengths clear and passing the 300m still had two lengths on the rest of the field, but it was quickly evident that American Eagle had plenty to offer.
Racing past the favourite to hit the lead with 100m to run, American Eagle did lay in a little in the run to the line, but had too much on his opposition, taking the race out for not only MyRacehorse, but racing partners Yulong and Mr P. Papaemmanouil.
Working home well into third was the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained Comitt (Profiteer), with the training duo in the winner’s stall in the following race of the day with D’Argento 3yo De Ascot.
Cleary a horse with above average ability, both trainer and jockey were suitably impressed with the winning performance.
“Yeah, look, he's done a terrific job,” said Douglas post-race. “Obviously, I haven't had a lot to do with him, I've only had him a short amount of time, but he's just impressed me with whatever he's done.”
“He's got a great temperament. That's going to take him a long way. He's a big, strong horse. He's just going to keep developing, and I think there'll be some nice races for him in the future.
“Yeah, we do feel he's going to get out over further, so we wanted to make sure that he still raced in a good manner today, and we felt seeing our track would suit him. Big, spacious track like this, let him balance up, and he really savaged the line nice.
“I think he'll improve off the run. I think he's probably still a little bit away from fitness-wise, but it was good to get the job done first up.
“I think the best thing with this horse at the moment is that I might just ease off him a touch and we'll get him ready for some better races in the spring.”
Having returned from a recent holiday with his family, Mott was keen to follow the colt after his recent jump out effort.
“I was really looking forward to riding this guy after trialling him,” sated Mott. “He'd come down from Sydney with nice raps on him, and he gave me a really good feel on. what was a really testing truck at Mornington Jump Outs.”
“Obviously, today the track conditions are a little bit better than what they were there. I was confident, even though I think he's a horse that will be great on top of the ground, I was confident he'd get through today.
“He travelled beautifully and he was able to balance up down the straight. He did get a little wayward when he hit the front, but I think he's got a lot of class and he's got a great future.
“Yeah, we just wanted to make sure he found his rhythm, had a good day out, and obviously we thought he could win. And he won really well.
“He's a horse that's got a big future. I'm hoping he can hopefully get to the top level. There's a big group of guys here and I'm sure there's a lot watching at home into My Racehorse. Fantastic for them to have a really nice horse.”
Transferred to the Douglas yard as a result of the recent suspension of trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman, the colt was a $400,000 purchase from the draft of co-owner Yulong at the Magic Millions Sale by Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock.
A half-brother to the Listed Tasmanian Derby placed Stardeal (Dundeel), American Eagle is the third winner from as many to the races out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Awake The Star.
From the family of G2 winners Le Zagaletta and My Chicarita (NZ), Awake The Stars has a yearling colt by Grunt (NZ), and after missing to Paulele in the following season, was covered by Widden Stud’s G1-winning Kingman stallion King Colorado in the spring.
The sire of 66 international stakes performers headed locally in Australia by G1 winners Broadsiding and Tropicus, the Darley based Too Darn Hot is standing at a fee of $275,000 (inc. GST) in the spring.
