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Eagle set to soar again

3 minute read

A horse described by his trainer as “a lit stick of dynamite” will chase back-to-back wins at Randwick.

CRAFTY EAGLE.
CRAFTY EAGLE. Picture: Martin King / Sportpix

If there was an award for the most energetic horse at Randwick on Saturday, Crafty Eagle would probably win it. 

John Thompson has put a saddle on countless gallopers during his long and successful career, but few have come close to showing the same zest for life as the three-year-old. 

"He is just a ball of energy that horse," Thompson said. 

"He's like a lit stick of dynamite. He's a horse you've got to keep active all the time." 

Luckily for Crafty Eagle, he has the talent to match his enthusiasm as he prepares to take his record to two wins from as many starts this campaign in Saturday's Racing And Sports Handicap (1400m). 

A winner up to a mile, the gelding overcame a wide draw and unsuitable distance to score over 1200m first-up and while he has to handle a class rise this weekend, it is offset by an ideal alley in two. 

"He's done super well and he's actually drawn a gate," Thompson said. 

"It's a step up in grade, that was a Midway 72, this is an open 78. I reckon he's up to it." 

Thompson is also bullish Purple Sector can improve sharply in the Drinkwise Mile (1600m) after getting too far out of his ground when midfield over 1400m at Randwick last month. 

He says the gelding will be ridden more positively on Saturday and despite rising eight, is sounder than he's ever been. 

"He was ready to run a lot better the other day but just got too far back. It was a bit frustrating to watch," Thompson said. 

"The mile at Randwick, he loves, he just needs to be closer to the speed. He should make a big improvement. 

"He's had soundness issues in the past with bad feet, but at the moment his feet are good, touch wood, and when his feet are good, he's good." 

Surreal Step rounds out Thompson's Randwick team in the Bob Charley Stakes (1100m) while More Prophets flies the flag for the stable in the Dane Ripper Stakes (1300m) at Eagle Farm with the trainer expecting both to be competitive. 


Racing and Sports

Randwick

Saturday, 10th June 2023

10
16:20
(local)

RACING AND SPORTS HANDICAP

Age: 3yo and up WT: 55.5kg Type: BM78
AUD $150,000
1400m TURF GOOD
10
16:20
(local)
AUD $150,000
1400m GOOD

RACING AND SPORTS HANDICAP

Age: 3yo and up WT: 55.5kg Type: BM78


FP Silk Horse, Age & Sex
Sire & Dam
Jockey
Trainer
SP
WT
1st 3. PASCERO (AUS) 4yo G
PIERRO (AUS) - PASS THE PARCEL (AUS)
DANNY BEASLEY
TRENT BUSUTTIN & NATALIE YOUNG
$31
60.5kg
First Light Racing Pty Ltd, S D Baertschiger, B C H White, N W Nicholson, C Chung, P A Hansen, Ms C M Szentkuti, A P Grant, Dr V Garbharran, Ms K Coburn, S Matsoukas, Ms S Andrews, S Bulow, R L Cox, Mrs C O'dea, M F Ko, S J V, Aussie Horse Club & G N T J

Sales Information

2nd 4. PHEARSON (AUS) 5yo G
EXOSPHERE (AUS) - CHATEAU D'YQUEM (NZ)
DYLAN GIBBONS
BRAD WIDDUP
$4.4
59kg
P James, P Christou, Ms L Mcgraw, R J Torpy, A Malizis & Miss L James

Sales Information

3rd 1. BATTLETON (AUS) 4yo G
ZOUSTAR (AUS) - DULVERTON (AUS)
REGAN BAYLISS
BJORN BAKER
$10
61kg
Bjorn Baker Racing (Mgr: B Baker), A Stephenson, H Blend, Mrs J Kelly, J Clarke, J Jakobsson, K Ferrel, M McLean, R Zerafa, R Canceri, Mrs J Canceri, R Hitchcock, S Debritz, W Kelly & Miss D Pace

Sales Information

4th 13. REDWOOD SHADOW (NZ) 5yo G
REDWOOD (GB) - PRICKLEY PRINCESS (NZ)
REECE JONES
JOSEPH PRIDE
$26
57kg

Sales Information

5th 10. CRAFTY EAGLE (AUS) 3yo G
STARCRAFT (NZ) - SPLENDID EAGLE (AUS)
KEAGAN LATHAM
JOHN P THOMPSON
$2.6
58.5kg

Sales Information

6th 12. GUNDY BRIDGE (AUS) 5yo G
I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - BAREENA (AUS)
ADAM HYERONIMUS
G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT
$3.75
58kg

Sales Information

7th 5. TRAVEST (NZ) 6yo G
TAVISTOCK (NZ) - GLAMOROUS GIRL (NZ)
AMY MCLUCAS
GREGORY HICKMAN
$81
57.5kg

Sales Information

8th 8. CRUEL SUMMER (AUS) 4yo G
CHOISIR (AUS) - SUMMER SONG (AUS)
KATHY O'HARA
PAUL PERRY
$67
59kg

Sales Information

9th 11. AKIHIRO (AUS) 4yo G
MAURICE (JPN) - LAHANA (AUS)
ROBBIE DOLAN
GARY PORTELLI
$101
58kg

Sales Information

10th 7. YOSHINO (AUS) 3yo G
LONHRO (AUS) - KANZAN (AUS)
JEAN VAN OVERMEIRE
JAMES CUMMINGS
$10
59kg

Sales Information

11th 2. MAHAGONI (GB) 4yo G
MUHAARAR (GB) - FESTOSO (IRE)
RORY HUTCHINGS
DAVID PAYNE
$26
60.5kg

Sales Information

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