Classy five-year-old Alpine Eagle will kick off his spring campaign at Group One level in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield.
After a meeting last week, trainer Tony McEvoy and owner Wolf Blass decided on the starting point for his preparation.
Saturday’s Group One Memsie Stakes won out over the Listed Sofitel Stakes over 1400m at Flemington on September 10.
“Wolf had some thoughts that he wanted to discuss and all his thoughts made very good sense,” McEvoy said.
“My concern was we were going to kick off a bit too late and that’s why I wanted to get him going a bit earlier.
“The opposition would have had a run or two under their belt before us so we would have been chasing and if you have a little setback then we might miss our targets.
“In the end Wolf agreed we should get him going.”
Alpine Eagle suffered a cracked pedal bone on the eve of the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington last October which sidelined him until May when he had one start at Morphettville.
McEvoy said he would let Alpine Eagle tell him what race he should be aimed at as the horse holds a nomination in both the Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate.
“I will let the horse do all the talking, I’ve done enough talking about him,” McEvoy said.
McEvoy said Alpine Eagle, who will be ridden by Luke Currie, had progressed well and he was looking forward to seeing him back at the races.
Darren Weir will gang-tackle the opening Group One race of the season with four runners.
Black Heart Bart and Melbourne Cup winner Prince Of Penzance will begin their spring campaigns in the 1400m weight-for-age contest while stablemates Palentino and Mahuta will have a fitness edge having had first-up runs at Caulfield on August 13.
The $15 Caulfield Cup favourite Tarzino is also scheduled to resume in Saturday’s race and will run in a barrier trial at Cranbourne on Monday in preparation for his return.
