Jockey Jamie Mott opted to cut short his family break to partner the exciting debut winner American Eagle at Sandown.

Mott had ridden at Caulfield the previous Saturday before heading to Noosa on the Sunshine Coast with his family to recuperate.

However, he was back in action on Wednesday at Sandown, teaming up with the Clayton Douglas-trained American Eagle for a victory in the Sportsbet Jockey Watch Handicap (1200m).

American Eagle ($3.40), despite not appreciating the heavy track conditions, triumphed by three-quarters of a length over the $2.80 favourite Judas Tree. Commit ($5) secured third place, a long neck further back.

The colt American Eagle has only been under Douglas’s care for the past fortnight, following the 28-day disqualification issued to Anthony and Sam Freedman.

After contesting trials in Sydney, American Eagle was dispatched south, where he won an 800-metre jump-out at Mornington on July 8.

“I was really looking forward to riding this guy,” Mott commented.

“He came down here with some nice raps on him and he gave me a really good feel on what was a really testing track at the Mornington jump-outs.

“Today the track conditions were a little bit better than what they were there and I was confident, even though he’s a horse that will be better on top of the ground, but I was confident he would get through it today.

“I think he’s got a lot of class and a bright future.”

Clayton Douglas, while still getting acquainted with American Eagle, has been impressed by what he has witnessed from the colt in the short period he has been under his guidance.

“He’s got a great temperament and that’s going to take him a long way,” Douglas said.

“He’s a big strong horse that is going to keep on developing and I think there will be some nice races for him in the future.

“We think that he will get out over further so we wanted to make sure that he raced in a good manner today and we felt the Sandown track would suit him, a big spacious track, where we could let him balance up.

“He hit the line nicely and I think he will improve off the run as I think he’s a bit away fitness wise.”

With only two weeks left until the Freedman father-and-son training team can resume their duties, Douglas jokingly remarked that he might need to race the colt multiple times to secure some victories.

“I think the best thing with this horse is that I might ease off him a touch to get him ready for some better races in the spring,” he added.

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