Eagle soars, now has Champion aspirations

The Dermot Weld trained Free Eagle showed the racing world what it may have missed this year when producing a brilliant display on his comeback run to win the KPMG Enterprise Stakes at Leopardstown today.

Ridden by Pat Smullen, Free Eagle overcame a year long layoff when quickening in fine style in the closing stages to record a seven lengths win over Elleval

The win was appropriate in many ways on Champions Day given Free Eagle is a son of High Chapparal, winner of the 2003 Champions Stakes, and given it is a year to the day when he last appeared, finishing a well held second to Australia in Group 3 company.

A delighted Weld later stated “he did it very impressively and it seems it is a case of what might have been (regarding his layoff), but such is life. He's come back nicely and we'll see how he comes out of it.

“He's very laid back and it was difficult enough to get him as fit as I wanted for today but he was pretty right. He should improve, naturally and he'll have one more run and the English Champion Stakes looks the logical race.

“He's just a very good horse and he did it very very well. It's just a worry now that he stays sound and right.”

Reflecting on the colt's enforced injury layoff, Weld added “he had a stress fracture of his tibia in the spring and was stood in his box for 12 weeks. Today was the very first day that it was practical to run and it was the right race to bring him back in.

“Losing him was a huge blow but thank-god he's back and Pat (Smullen) was thrilled with him.”

Free Eagle has been introduced by Paddy Power at 5/1 for the English Champion Stakes.

Quotes from Gary Carson