Free Eagle set for Leopardstown return
Part of Red Mills Irish Champion Stakes Day, the Group Three allows automatic entry into the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf as part of ’the win and you’re in’ process.
Free Eagle, who is trained by Dermot Weld, created a huge impression in landing his maiden at the Dublin track on August 15 and had jockey Pat Smullen waxing lyrical about his potential.
The High Chaparral colt is entered in most of the Group One two-year-old events later on. “It is quite possible that he might run in the Group Three over a mile,” said Weld.
Referring to his debut, Weld said: “He didn’t surprise me, he has always shown talent, but he did it more impressively than I expected.
“There is a lot to come from him, but I must stress that he has only won a maiden so far.”
* Trainer Jim Bolger will not make a call on whether to give Dawn Approach’s sister Prudent Approach her racecourse debut in Sunday’s Moyglare Stud Stakes until declaration time.
It would be brave to pitch an unraced maiden against proven fillies like Kiyoshi and Tapestry in the Curragh Group One, but she does have the pedigree to be competitive.
Bolger also has two other maidens engaged, albeit ones who have seen the racecourse already, by way of Craic Agus Spraoi and Peony Fairy. “I haven’t decided what I’ll run yet, and it won’t be until Friday morning that I do,” said Bolger.
* A Flat meeting at Fairyhouse scheduled for Monday September 23 has now been transferred to Tipperary.
Drainage work needs to be carried out at the County Meath track, where they do not race again until October 12. Due to the different nature of the course at Tipperary, minor changes are likely to take place for distances of certain races.
* Crabbie’s, who specialise in making alcoholic ginger beer, were yesterday unveiled as the new sponsor for the Aintree Grand National in a three-year deal which will see the race serve up £1million in prize-money for the first time.
