Having persuaded Grand Eagle’s owners not to take him overseas, Gerald Ryan was rapt to see the two-year-old vindicate that advice with an outstanding win in the opening race at Randwick.
The Farnan youngster is part-owned by retired Hong Kong training legend John Moore, who had been contemplating sending him to the Asian racing centre following his maiden win at Hawkesbury last start.
It was jockey Nash Rawiller who helped convince Moore otherwise, adamant Grand Eagle was capable of mixing it with the best of his generation in the Sydney spring.
“Nash rode him work before he went to Newcastle (at his second start) and put a huge wrap on him,” co-trainer Ryan said.
“John was thinking about taking him to Hong Kong and Nash said, ‘don’t take him to Hong Kong, he will be winning good races in the spring’ so he goes out (for a spell) now.”
The Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) will be among the options connections consider when Grand Eagle returns next season.
Ryan said the colt had shown promise from the outset but was slow to learn his craft, running off the track when finishing second at Warwick Farm on debut before reacting poorly to the addition of blinkers at Newcastle.
The headgear came off for his next start at Hawkesbury where he posted a stout win under Rawiller before backing it up with a stand-out performance in Saturday’s ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day Handicap (1100m).
“He has always promised to be a lot and I always thought this horse wasn’t very far behind (Black Opal Stakes winner) King Of Pop,” Ryan said
“But King Of Pop is so professional and this horse wanted to do a bit wrong.
“His main aim this time was going to be the Baillieu and he was doing things wrong so we said to John, ‘forget about that and just educate the horse first’. He was just thinking too much.”
Grand Eagle ($7.50) settled a clear last on Saturday before Rawiller weaved a passage through the middle of the pack in the straight and switched him around heels to overhaul Akaysha ($4.20) by a half-length with another 1-3/4 lengths to Hidden Motive ($3 fav).
Rawiller felt riding the horse conservatively had made a significant difference.
“I think we have found the key to him,” Rawiller said.
“He is still very green but he was strong late and he’s a nice horse. He’s a beauty.”
