Echuca
Race 2 – Steller Eagle
Jockey – Rose Hammond
1100m – Barrier 4
Promising filly Steller Eagle is third-up and fitter when she travels to Echuca this afternoon. Dwyer’s three-year-old was very good when fresh at Swan Hill behind Silvagni, before bumping into a very speedy one in Naval Academy at Warracknabeal last start. That horse was beaten under a length in a slick two-year-old race at Flemington on Saturday, and is a fair reference for today’s contest. Jockey Rose Hammond can settle outside or just behind the leaders here from a good draw and get every chance in the run.
Plenty of speed is drawn towards the inside, with Iz Shaft, Shadoway Drive and Princess Halo all looking to go forward from gates one to three. The latter started favourite on debut at Geelong a fortnight ago, leading throughout before feeling the pinch late and finishing a close-up fourth. Runner-up from that race has since bolted in at Bendigo (six lengths), and that looks solid form for a maiden. Fitter second-up and will take beating. Negotiations is the other main hope here, making his debut on the back of a pair of sound jumpouts. Drawn to get a soft run behind the speed and can make his presence felt here. Concede an each way chance to Shadoway Drive, but suspect she’ll need easier than this.
Steller Eagle strikes a suitable race today and should, with respect to her opposition, be filling a top-three position without too many concerns. She’ll get a soft run in transit and will get her chance in the home straight to pinch the race. Hammond’s 3kg claim has her in well at the weights, and provided the filly settles in the run, will be right in the finish here.
Currently, Steller Eagle is a $7.50 chance in the market.