Promising import Buffalo River is having a short break before attention turns to a light spring campaign focusing on the inaugural $7.5 million Golden Eagle.
Buffalo River is a northern hemisphere-bred three-year-old who is around six months younger than his southern hemisphere rivals in the same age group heading towards the Golden Eagle (1500m) for four-year-olds at Rosehill on November 2.
Having won his three Australian starts in strong fashion, including city wins at Sandown and Flemington in the Silver Bowl Series Final eight days ago, Buffalo Eagle will now be given the chance to get to the Golden Eagle (1500m).
“He has gone to the paddock and he’s going to have three weeks there,” trainer Mike Moroney said.
“Then he’ll just get ready to head to Sydney.
“We’ll give him a couple of runs in the spring and hopefully we’d like to get to the Golden Eagle if we can.”
Moroney said the new $500,000 Silver Eagle (1300m) three weeks before the Golden Eagle was among the options as it was a chance to qualify for the Golden Eagle (1500m).
The first three placegetters in the Silver Eagle are exempt from ballot.
Moroney said there were other races in Melbourne Buffalo River could run in around the same time if Golden Eagle plans did not eventuate.
“But he’ll only be having a couple of spring runs,” he said.
Moroney said Buffalo River still had some growing to do which was exciting for the future.
“I think his best is to come,” he said.
Buffalo River is $26 in the TAB’s early all-in market for the Golden Eagle, with Group One winners Arcadia Queen and Brutal the equal favourites at $4.50.
The Golden Eagle also features in the spring plans for multiple Group One winner Sunlight.
She already has a slot in the $14 million The Everest (1200m) in October.
Trainer Tony McEvoy is planning for The Everest to be Sunlight’s fourth run of her spring campaign with the Golden Eagle her fifth.
