Nash Rawiller is looking to maintain his unbeaten association with the promising juvenile Grand Eagle as the colt takes a step up in class at Randwick on Saturday.
Rawiller piloted the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained youngster to his maiden victory at Hawkesbury and will stick with the son of Farnan for the ATC Bookmakers Recognition Day Handicap (1100m).
“Nash came and gave him a spin in a gallop before that Hawkesbury run and was impressed,” Ryan said. “He only had the one ride at the meeting and it was because he wanted to be on Grand Eagle.”
Grand Eagle heads into this weekend’s race with one win and two placings from his three career starts. On debut at Warwick Farm, he finished second but drifted in the straight. He then disappointed at Newcastle with blinkers added, prompting a gear change for his latest outing.
“We took the blinkers off, rode him more conservatively, and he finished off strongly,” Ryan said. “He’s still learning and when he hit the front, he wanted to look around again. Nash felt he got there too soon and that Hawkesbury straight is long and open.”
Saturday will be Grand Eagle’s fourth start, and with debutant Jet scratched, he’s set to meet 11 rivals including Beskar, who placed in the Kindergarten Stakes, and Gobi Desert, winner of the Max Lees Classic and a half-sister to Group 1 winner In Her Time.
Gobi Desert returns from a break after a tough run in the Inglis Nursery (1000m) where she drew wide and couldn’t find cover.
Ryan confirmed Grand Eagle will be spelled after Saturday, regardless of the result. “He’s done a good job this prep. It’ll be his last run before a break,” he said.