Eagle soars into series final
Loch Eagle booked a shot at a major purse when he posted an impressive second-up victory at Newcastle on Friday afternoon.
The four-year-old son of Lonhro won the heat of the Midway Championship over 1400 metres to book a spot in the A$500,000 final at Randwick on April 8.
Closely related to multiple Group 1 winner and successful sire Pierro, Loch Eagle was a A$230,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase and is raced by a syndicate that includes Waikato Stud.
He is trained by Kris Lees and his Waikato Stud-bred stablemate Willinga Freefall finished third and also qualified for the rich final.
Loch Eagle went back from a wide gate and after improving near the turn, powered home in the hands of Dylan Gibbons to win in fine style.
“He was quite impressive and the good tempo upfront suited him,” Lees said.
The gelding has now won four races and has placings in the G3 Gunsynd Classic and the Listed South Pacific Classic to his credit.
Oaks Day glory for Waikato Stud-bred Sulek
Waikato Stud enjoyed a special moment on Oaks Day at Flemington on Thursday, when the New Zealand-bred gelding Sulek – by Super Seth out the O’Reilly mare Tiff And Co, saluted on one of the biggest days of the racing calendar and in front of an international crowd. Bred by the farm in partnership with the Dowager Duchess of Bedford, Sulek took out the A$500,000 Cirka Melbourne Cup Carnival Country Final (1600m) for the third and most lucrative win of his career.
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The Corner with Garry Chittick
And so, another Melbourne Cup has been run. Regretfully, Mary and I were not there. I have no idea how many we attended up until COVID, and I miss the Cup week. Victoria prides itself as the sporting capital of Australia; it may be, they certainly know how to create an event.
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