Loyalty pays off for Group 1 Queensland Derby winner Eagle Way

PATIENCE and loyalty was rewarded when Eagle Way scored a memorable win in the Group 1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm.

The Bryan Guy-trained gelding is owned by John Moore of Hong Kong and was set to travel to Asia, but Guy convinced Moore to keep it in Australia for a tilt at the Derby. That loyalty was ultimately rewarded when the three-year-old outfought the game Rodrico to score its biggest career win.

The son of More Than Ready flashed home for second in the Grand Prix Stakes and the increase in distance was always going to play into its hands. Tommy Berry supplied a peach of a ride and notched yet another major victory this season.

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“My Dad used to ride for Bryan Guy, it feels like I’ve been with these guys for awhile,” Berry said.

“I got to the front a lot earlier than I wanted to, but to his credit he got there, looked around, but got there late.”

Eagle Way ($7 at Sportsbet) has now had 13 starts for four wins and it looks destined to contest some of the stronger staying races in Hong Kong when it resumes next campaign.

“He just took a little bit of time for the penny to drop,” Berry added. “So happy to be home!”

Bryan Guy confirmed it was Eagle Way’s last run in Australia.

“He’s a good horse this horse, it’s sad I’m going to lose him, he’ll go to Hong Kong now but John (Moore) owns him and I just have to thank John for leaving him here with me to get him ready for this race,” Guy said.

“He’ll probably have a week off or so now and they’ll vet him and then he’ll be off.”

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The 2017 Hong Kong Derby is on the agenda next year and it looks a strong chance.

“I think he will (run in the Derby), he’s just improving all the time,” Guy said. “This horse has come back this preparation and just got better and better.”

Game in defeat was the Chris Waller-trained Rodrico ($23) which fought all the way down the home straight. The son of High Chaparral is bred to see out the staying distances and it didn’t let its followers down. In third placing was I’m Belucci ($41) which produced a career-best performance. It was running on well in the Grand Prix and the horses that finished just in behind the winner performed best.

The winner of the Grand Prix was Mackintosh which was one of the first horses beaten on the home turn. The former New Zealand runner, now with Chris Waller, assumed its usual pace-making role, but was found wanting over the increased distance.

Howard Be Thy Name battled on gamely for fourth and the lengthy campaign was telling in the final stretch.

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