Is Loch Eagle the value bet in $1 million Silver Eagle?
Loch Eagle could provide punters with plenty of value in the Silver Eagle at Randwick on Saturday, the star stallion a $12 winning chance with Ladbrokes.
Kris Lees’ sprinter was nothing short of outstanding the way he stormed home in the final 200m to win his last start, a Benchmark 78 Handicap over 1250m at Canterbury Park on September 21.
This is why the stable believes he can also be super competitive in Saturday’s $1 million feature over 1300m.
“He was very good at Canterbury. He couldn’t have done much more first-up,” Lees’ representative Danny Greer told Sky Racing.
“His sectionals were really good that final 200m.
“So importantly he’s come through that run really well and he’s on track for Saturday.”
There has always been a quiet confidence from the Lees stable that Loch Eagle could have a bright career.
“He looks like a horse with plenty of upside. This is only his second race preparation – he’s a bit raw,” Lees told HorseBetting.com.au before he ran fourth in the Hawkesbury Guineas on April 30.
“But I think we’ll see a better horse next time around.”
Those words will certainly hold credibility if Loch Eagle can be competitive on Saturday.
Greer agrees the four-year-old has shown continual progression, Regan Bayliss to ride him with 56kg on his back from barrier 12.
“He’s always been quite a nice horse and he’s always continued to please,” Greer said.
“He’s improved and we’ve been very happy with him this time in, so given the right opportunity Saturday he should be thereabouts.”
Greer is also not shy about the respective chances of Willinga Beast in the Roman Consul Stakes and Never Talk in The Nivison, both over 1200m.
“She (Willinga Beast) will go back to the 1200 and with the blinkers applied,” he said.
“It looks a nice enough race for her.
“She’s at peak fitness now, so we expect a nice performance stepping back to 1200m with the blinkers on.
“(Never Talk) is in good order. She was good first-up (third in a Benchmark 88 over 1200m at Randwick on September 17).
“And if we get the rain that they forecast it will certainly enhance her chances.”