Trainers hoping for Grand week with juveniles

A strong midweek performance from Grand Eagle has Ryan and Alexiou eyeing further juvenile success at The Championships this weekend.

The promising colt broke through in the Good Luck Paris Eaton Handicap (1100m) at Hawkesbury, winning by 1-1/4 lengths in his third career outing.

He had previously placed at Warwick Farm and run a solid fourth behind Buffalo, who later placed in Group 1 company. Alexiou believes the key was ditching the blinkers.

“He ran off the track at Warwick Farm at his first start so we put the shades on to try to help straighten him up and concentrate on things a bit better. It just backfired on us,” Alexiou told Sky Racing.

“He was at his top the whole race (at Newcastle) and never finished off, which was the first time that had ever happened. The last furlong is normally his best.

“Nash (Rawiller) rode a really patient race on him today and he was strong through the line.”

Plans for Grand Eagle remain open-ended, depending on how he pulls up from the win.

“I loved him today. He got to show his turn of foot. I shut him straight down early and he’s a horse that will really go on with the job now, I reckon,” Rawiller said.

The stable will turn its attention to the $1 million Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) on Saturday, fielding three contenders: Dream Side, Sequista, and Pleasure Queen.

Dream Side is set to meet Memo again after their Magic Night Stakes clash. Sequista resumes after placing in the Inglis Nursery (1100m) on debut.

“Sequista beat Bjorn Baker’s filly, Within The Law and Memo in a trial on Friday. She has done enormous,” Gerald Ryan said.

“Dream Side has done terrific too. We gave her a week in the paddock and she worked nicely on (Saturday) morning.

“Pleasure Queen will go there too. She won on debut and didn’t have much luck at her next start.”

So far this season, the stable has had a productive run with two-year-olds, collecting seven wins, including black-type victories with Skyhook and King Of Pop.