Alpine Eagle is pleasing trainer Tony McEvoy in his recovery from a cracked pedal bone which halted his spring campaign.
McEvoy, who also has a stable at Hawkesbury in NSW, was in South Australia last week overseeing trackwork at his Angaston property where Alpine Eagle was sent to recover.
The trainer will return on Monday to check the four-year-old’s progress.
Alpine Eagle was ruled out of the spring following his scratching from the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington in October.
It was originally thought Alpine Eagle had suffered a foot abscess, however X-rays confirmed a cracked pedal bone.
“I was in Adelaide earlier in the week and I saw him in the paddock,” McEvoy said.
“He’s doing very well and is beautifully sound.
“He’s not on any medication and is galloping around his paddock like no-one’s business.”
The winner of four of his eight starts, Alpine Eagle shot to prominence earlier in the year winning the Autumn Classic at Caulfield before running a closing second at Flemington behind Wandjina in the Australian Guineas.
He was expected to be a major spring contender after beginning his campaign with a second in the Penny Edition Stakes at Morphettville.
He then finished out of the placings for the first time when beaten less than a length into sixth in the Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington in September which turned out to be the final start of his preparation.
McEvoy said how Alpine Eagle returned to training would determine his program, but he was looking towards late autumn or Brisbane with the son of High Chaparral.
“We’ve got to watch his progress and he’s the one that’s got to do the talking,” McEvoy said.
“I’m thinking maybe the back-end of Sydney into Brisbane and with Eagle Farm back on deck, that excites me a little bit.
“But I haven’t really made any plans.
“I just want to make sure he’s 110 per cent before we get him going.”