Eagle swoops to victory
Talented three-year-old Intrepid Eagle turned in a virtual last-to-first effort to score easily on the Ballarat synthetic on Tuesday, May 9.
Jockey Declan Bates rode a patient race before bringing Intrepid Eagle with a powerful sprint to swoop to victory in the Hygain Winners Choice Benchmark 58 Handicap (1400m).
Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, the gelding’s win was a tonic for part-owner Steve Whyte who is currently laid up in hospital in Adelaide.
From a wide draw, Intrepid Eagle was caught wide and back early before Bates asked him to improve approaching the home turn.
Outside, the gelding, the $2.50 favourite, sprinted powerfully to round up his rivals and win by 2-1/4 lengths from Graham ($18) with Brilliant Sapphire ($11), 1-1/4 lengths away third.
Trainer Tony McEvoy said he believed Intrepid Eagle could measure up as a city performer.
“We’ve got a lot of time for the horse,” McEvoy said.
“I’ve always had in my mind that he was a mile-plus, up to 2000 (metres).
“We got him to 1800 (metres), the other day and he had a lovely run, presented and didn’t finish the race off, I just got him a bit wrong.
“So we decided to freshen him up and back to 1400 (metres) and he was quite explosive today, it was fantastic.
“He’s always suggested to me he is a Saturday class horse, and I would like to see if we can get him to that grade now.
“Now we have worked him out, he looks well and certainly has got more to offer so we can go to a midweek from here and work our way up.”
McEvoy paid tribute to winning jockey Declan Bates.
“Dec showed great patience,” the trainer said.
“He got a bit further back than we planned, but he showed great poise and skill and protected the horse.
“I just want to have a shout out to Steve Whyte.
“Steve is one of the owners in the horse, with his family, and he is laid up in Adelaide in hospital at the moment.
“I reckon the win will be the best bit of medicine for Steve.”
Winning jockey Declan Bates thought Intrepid Eagle was well graded today.
“He was dropping in grade and well placed by the McEvoy team,” Bates said.
“In the end, he was a grade above these, easy work.”