Million dollar earner Husson Eagle is expected to produce a better effort second up in the Listed $150,000 Seppelt Wines Victorian Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington on Saturday.
Trainer Patrick Payne expects a better performance from Husson Eagle, above, in the Victorian Sprint Series Final at Flemington. Photo by Ultimate Racing Photos.
Husson Eagle disappointed trained Patrick Payne with his first up ninth of twelve in an 1100m Handicap down the Flemington straight on June 23 but he is willing to forget the run and is expecting an improved performance this week.
Husson Eagle usually raced well fresh with a first up record of three wins and two seconds from seven attempts, but while Payne does admit that the six year old was disappointing, he could still offer some excuses for his down the track finish.
Payne said that Husson Eagle races best with cover, something he didn’t get at Flemington last start and he also pulled up with the thumps.
Equinews says that “a horse with thumps looks alarmingly like a human with hiccups. In horses, spasms of the diaphragm cause marked, and sometimes convulsive, twitching of the flanks that mirror heartbeat. Though hiccups can be caused by any number of reasons in humans, the origin of thumps in horses can usually be traced to electrolyte imbalance.”
“Run was poor really. He raced without cover which was not his go but in saying that I think he was just disappointing,” Payne told RSN Racing Pulse.
“It was a pretty ordinary performance. He was training really well before that so we were pretty disappointed.”
“He pulled up with the thumps which he can get a little bit. We have given him a good testing since then and he is going really well so we have to make sure he gets cover for the first half.”
Husson Eagle quickly recovered from the minor setback and Payne said he has been working well on the tracks and expects a better performance in the Victorian Sprint Series Final.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran a lot better this time,” Payne said.
“I think if he is ridden with cover in a relaxed manor he is less likely to get the thumps until after the race.”
“His first up effort was a non-event. He normally lets you know how he is working and he is working really really well.”
“He might run a bit better than what his form suggest.”
Husson Eagle is the winner of five of his thirty-four race starts and his victory in the 2016 $1m Magic Millions Sprint (1100m) at the Gold Coast was the one that helpd push his prizemoney earnings pass the $1 million mark.
Husson Eagle has been a long time out of the winner’s circle and the last time he greeted the judge first was in the Listed $120,000 Doveton Stakes (1000m) at Sandown at the end of the 2016 Melbourne Spring Carnival.
Michael Dee has been booked to ride Husson Eagle who has drawn barrier nine in the eleven horse Victorian Sprint Series Final field and pre-post betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has the gelding marked as a $16 chance.
The Darren Weir trained Man From Uncle and Robbie Griffiths’ Divine Quality share favouritism at $5.50 ahead of Hellova Street at $6 and Camdus and Labuan Star at $7.50.
