The step up in distance to the 1630m will suit Gold Coast three year old Eagle Way when he contests the Group 3 $125,000 ANTEC Gunsynd Classic at Doomben on Saturday.
Eagle Way, above with white and maroon band, will appreciate the step up to 1630m of the Gunsynd Classic at Doomben. Photo by Daniel Costello.
Eagle Way hit the line hard when a first up second over 1400m in a Gold Coast BenchMark 75 Handicap on April 16 and trainer Bryan Guy can see him stretching out nicely over the extra 230m.
“It was only 1400 metres and too short for him,” Guy told Racing Queensland News.
“He was beaten for speed and they ran very good sectionals which made it impossible for him to win but he hit the line strongly.
“It’s a tough race but going to 1600 metres will suit him a lot better.
“Being second-up doesn’t worry me as he had a trial before he resumed so he’s fit and well.”
If Eagle Way runs up to Guy’s expectation and shows potential staying ability, the More Than Ready three year old will be set on a Queensland Derby campaign.
“I’ve had a lot of good three-year-old stayers over the years and I rate this bloke up with the best of them,” Guy said.
“He’ll go into the Rough Habit Plate next then the Grand Prix and if he shows us he’ll stay he’ll run in the Queensland Derby.”
“You never know at this stage of their careers whether three-year-olds will stay but this bloke gives every indication he will.
“His three wins last time in were outstanding. He donkey-licked them at Caloundra and his Doomben win was sensational when he came from near last on the home turn.”
The Group 3 $125,000 Mitty’s Rough Habit Plate (2000m) will be run at Doomben on May 14 followed by the Group 3 $150,000 Mullins Lawyers Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben a fortnight later then another two weeks into the Group 1 $600,000 Channel Seven Queensland Derby (2400m) at Eagle Farm on June 11.
Eagle Way is the winner of three of his nine race starts and all those wins came during his last preparation over the Summer months, beginning with his Maiden win over 1600m at the Sunshine Coast on December 6, followed by a win over 1615m in a Doomben three year old Handicap and then he wrapped up his hat trick with victory in an 1800m three year old Handicap at the Sunshine Coast on January 2.
Eagle Way, a $13 chance at Ladbrokes.com.au, has drawn nicely at barrier six in the fourteen horse field and will be ridden by Paul Hammersley.
Market order for the Gunsynd Classic at Ladbrokes.com.au: $4.80 Too Good To Refuse, $5 Cylinder Beach, $7 Tap This, $8.50 Havasay, $9 I’m Belucci, $11 Shotacross The Bow, $13 Eagle Way, $14 Miami Dade, $15 Dawnie Perfect, $16 Reneged, Snapper, $41 Flying Labelle, $51 Kuttamurra Al, $81 Thermal Unit.
