Tony Vasil has his sights set on the 2012 Stradbroke with promising four-year-old Under The Eiffel who completed a hat-trick of wins in The Alannah and Madeline Foundation Stakes at Sandown.
Vasil has a big opinion of the Mossman gelding who has had a light spring, winning first-up over 1300m at Seymour and then over 1400m at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day.
“He’ll go to the paddock now. He’s a pretty handy horse, I don’t think you’ve seen the best of him,” Vasil said.
“He might be a sneaky Stradbroke horse.”
Craig Williams completed a winning double aboard Under The Eiffel, having earlier won the Listed Written Tycoon Champion Sire Stakes aboard Maximus Moonard.
Williams, who returned from a careless riding suspension incurred on Bendigo Cup day, also had three second placings from his first five rides at the meeting on Miss Stellabelle, Our Serena and Masthead.
Sent out $1.90 favourite, Under The Eiffel sat off race leader Launay and kicked away in the straight to score by 1-3/4 lengths from Sistine Angel ($9) with Orbit Express ($26) a neck away third.
“He’s done the job courtesy of a great ride by Craig. I feel sorry for Jamie Mott who has been riding him and would have ridden him today if he could make the weight,” Vasil said.
“Nevertheless it was a terrific ride.”
Vasil wintered Under The Eiffel, who has won six of his 14 starts, in Queensland last year, his best run being a second in the Listed Sunshine Coast Guineas (1600m) in July before a spell.
Last autumn he ran second in the Group Two D’Urban Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield and fifth in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington but Vasil said he was a more mature horse now.
“He weighs 500 kilos now. He’s put on 30kg since his last preparation. He’s a bigger, stronger horse,” he said.
AAP TURF
