Husson Eagle is yet to win at Flemington but his straight-course credentials are as good as any horse going into a heat of the AR Creswick Stakes on Saturday.
The three-year-old is set to line up over 1000m, having been freshened since his last-start fourth in the Group Two Euclase Stakes in Adelaide last month.
Stakes-placed Husson Eagle’s two previous starts over 1000m at Flemington have resulted in two seconds, including one behind top filly Bring Me The Maid on debut last year.
His other start up the straight was over 1200m in the Group One Coolmore Stud Stakes in which he finished fifth.
Trainer Patrick Payne has booked apprentice Jordan Childs to claim 2kg from Husson Eagle’s 57.5kg.
“He’s not a very big horse and this time of year if you don’t claim and they claim around you, it can leave you out on a limb a bit,” the trainer said.
Payne said he was open minded about plans for Husson Eagle.
“Whether we go to this race and then give him a freshen up and pick out a race in the spring or whether we keep going now, we’ll just have to wait and see,” Payne said.
Payne believes Husson Eagle’s best performances are first-up because his only two wins have been when resuming from a spell.
“I’d be confident he’ll run really well,” he said.
Payne will also start two-year-old Alamonteel in Saturday’s Taj Rossi Series heat (1400m) after the filly scored a maiden win at Mildura at her second start.
“I’ve always liked her. I’m not going to get carried away with a Mildura win but she did it quite well and the trip away will have done her the world of good,” he said.
Payne said the form out of the country maiden had been sound and jockey Mark Zahra has been booked for the ride.
