There was not a lot of love in the betting ring for the Alpine Eagle debutant Spring Eagle, but he looked like a horse with a future after a barnstorming victory in a 2yo maiden plate over 1000m at Sale on Wednesday.
Ridden by Beu Mertens for Gavin Bedggood, Spring Eagle was buried away near last turning for home. When finding clear air, the son of Alpine Eagle motored home to defeat the well-supported Squamosa filly Meg’s Magic by three-quarters of a length with the $700,000 Zoustar colt Boom Boom Baby a half-length back in third.
Gavin Bedggood said getting a gauge on the 2yo gelding from his trackwork was difficult.
“He is a very casual horse in his trials,” Bedggood told Racing.com.
“Coming to the corner, I was cursing Beau because he had nowhere to go. He let down hard when he got clean air, and it was an impressive win.
“My horse has not run time at the trial, but he has never really been asked for an effort. We have cuddled him along and looked after him
“We knew he had a gear there when we asked him. We knew he would be better for the experience, but winning didn’t surprise me.
“I purchased him last year in Tasmania. He was a passed-in lot. He had a little x-ray issue, but I wasn’t too concerned about it. That gave us the confidence to purchase him, and he looks a cheap buy now.”
A $30,000 purchase by his trainer from the Armidale Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, Spring Eagle is the first foal of the I Am Invincible mare Garland.
A $120,000 yearling purchase for Star Thoroughbreds at the Gold Coast, Garland won three consecutive races in Tasmania for Barry Campbell after transferring from Chris Waller.
A sister to stakes-placed winner I Am Gracie from the family of Snippets and Hinchinbrook, Garland had an All Too Hard filly sell to Leon Wells for $80,000 when consigned by Armidale Stud to the 2023 MM Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Garland has a weanling colt by Earthlight (IRE) and was covered by Blue Point (IRE) last spring.
It’s been the merry month of May for Alpine Eagle, who has a treble at Hobart on May 14, a double at Devonport on May 21, plus winners at Cranbourne, Ballarat, and Warrnambool..
The handsome son of High Chaparral (IRE) stands at Armidale Stud for a fee of $4,400 in 2023.
