Bookmakers might have been happy to take on Eduardo, but his Concorde Stakes rivals proved no match for the evergreen sprinter as he sailed to a facile first-up win.
A surprising betting ring drifter as strong support came for eventual fourth placegetter Andermatt ($2.80), Eduardo eventually started a $2.70 top pick but won with the ease of an odds-on favourite.
Trainer Joe Pride said he was supremely confident Eduardo would notch his 12th career win at the beginning of the week but started to waver when several pundits tipped against him.
“If I hadn’t believed what everyone was saying, I thought it was won when I put a nomination in on Monday,” Pride said.
“I kept thinking, ‘how could this horse get beat?’ I couldn’t see how he could get beat – he’s a different level.
“But doubt starts to creep in, you have all week to think about it.
“I just believe in this horse’s ability, he is an amazing horse.”
Eduardo gave Pride little cause for concern in the run, mustering his customary speed out of the gates to park outside leader Malkovich before putting him to the sword at the top of the straight and streeting clear.
He had 2-1/2 lengths to spare over Athelric ($12) with Handle The Truth ($31) an eye-catching third, another 1-3/4 lengths away.
While Eduardo is nine, he is lightly raced, and Pride says that is the key to his ability to remain at the top of the sprinting ranks season after season.
He was taking on a bunch of mainly emerging horses in Saturday’s Concorde Stakes (1000m) but will meet arch-rival and nemesis Nature Strip at his next two starts in The Shorts (1100m) and The Everest (1200m).
“We will be here for The Shorts in a couple of weeks’ time and then we’ll give him the month into The Everest,” Pride said.
“He has come back in terrific order. He’s heavier than he has ever been and you’ll see that reflected in his race performances.”
Regular rider Nash Rawiller was equally effusive, agreeing that Eduardo had returned in outstanding condition.
“I don’t think he has travelled like that in a race for a long time,” Rawiller said.
“He was fit and well and he wanted to show them who was boss.
“He’s going as good as ever. Who knows? He is due for things to fall into place in a big one, so maybe this is his year.”
Eduardo firmed into an $8 chance for The Everest, sharing the second line of betting with Mazu behind defending champion and $2.80 favourite Nature Strip.
