Trainer Ricardo Le Grange is throwing impressive last-start winner Eagle Eye in at the deep end in the $200,000 Group 3 Moonbeam Vase (1600m) this Sunday, conscious it’s a different kettle of fish, but still hopeful the Argentinian import can hold his own.
The Pure Prize four-year-old came to Singapore boasting a faultless record of three-from-three in Argentina (1200m to 1400m) when known as Mr Tessio, but his transition to Kranji has not been all that seamless.
A rushed prep towards his short-term target, the Group 1 Singapore Guineas (1600m), the third Leg of the Singapore Three-Year-Old Challenge, back in May, came a cropper.
It was a mistake with the benefit of hindsight, thought Le Grange, but at the time, he took a leap of faith, which sometimes, pays off, sometimes, doesn’t.
This time, it didn’t. Eagle Eye, then a colt, finished out of the placings more than 10 lengths off the winner Mr Clint, but he has bounced back to his Argentinian formline since – not without some significant alteration.
Gelded shortly after the Singapore Guineas, the Kajorn Petch Racing No 6 Stable-owned galloper made an immediate impact with a second place first-up in a Class 3 race over 1400m on July 13. Three weeks later, he shed his Kranji maiden tag with a pulsating win in a similar event.
The Eagle has landed, but Le Grange will soon find out if he can soar even higher. He has raised the bar – this time, both class-wise and distance-wise.
“It’s quite a strong race for Eagle Eye, but I wouldn’t have run him if I didn’t think he could measure up to that class of horses,” said the South African handler who finished runner-up to Mark Walker at his first year of training last season.
“How he will fare in the shake-up against the top echelon, I guess we’ll know after the race.
“He’s never raced beyond 1400m back home and here. This will be his first test over the mile and it will give us a good guide to where he is at now.
“On ratings, he is not receiving as much weight as he should. He is on 81 and a horse like Infantry who is on 113 points is giving him only four kilos (or eight points) – 57kgs against 53kgs.
“I would be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about that, but that’s the way the handicap of the race is. He’s still a young horse and he still has a lot of scope, and he’s a fit horse.
“In the Guineas, he was still a colt then and was coming off a quick back-up. Things are different this time.”
While Eagle Eye, who will have last-start winning partner Barend Vorster back astride, represents youth and plenty of upsides, Le Grange also saddles old soldier Majestic Moments in the Moonbeam Vase.
A feature race stalwart for Le Grange as well as his former boss Patrick Shaw, and the Tmen Stable, the Darci Brahma seven-year-old has come close many times, but has yet to hit the jackpot. He even contested the old-format JBBA Moonbeam Vase when run over 1800m and in April two years ago, running fourth to stablemate In Fact.
At his latest effort, Majestic Moments was coming off an eighth win in a Kranji Stakes A race over 1400m, but again fell short of the mark in a Group race. He closed in well enough, but could only run sixth to Preditor in the Group 3 Jumbo Jet Trophy (1400m) three weeks ago.
“I’m happy with both Eagle Eye and Majestic Moments. They’re both fit and well,” said Le Grange, who after a slow start this term, has slowly climbed up to sixth spot on 31 winners, 11 behind current leader Shane Baertschiger.
“With (regular partner) Nooresh (Juglall) still suspended, Alan Munro will ride Majestic Moments and I think it will suit his style. Alan is a patient rider and that should give him every possible chance.”
