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Tony Pike won’t be downcast if Vinnie Eagle loses his unbeaten domestic record at Taupo on Friday.
The Cambridge trainer’s hand has been forced by factors beyond his control to kick off last season’s Gr.3 Eclipse Stakes winner out of his comfort zone in the Rating 75 NZI Handicap.
“The weather has been the big hold up and it’s not ideal to run him first-up against the older horses over 1300 metres,” Pike said.“I didn’t want to trial him on a heavy track at Avondale and he did then trial well at Cambridge. He needs a run before the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and he’ll strip a lot fitter for that after Taupo.
“He’s come back well and he’s certainly forward enough to be competitive.”Vinnie Eagle, who won both his starts at home last season before he was beaten by the outside gate in the Inglis Classic at Randwick, is nominated for the Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas.
“The mile is the question mark with him, but it’s amazing what they can do against their own age group and we’ll have a better idea after Hawke’s Bay and then the Sarten Memorial.“By that stage we’ll know whether to carry on to Christchurch or to look at other options like the Railway.”
Vinnie Eagle will be ridden at Taupo by Leith Innes, who has given up the ride on stablemate Sacred Star in Saturday’s Gr.1 Windsor Park Plate due to a contractual arrangement with race rival Zonza’s owners Brendon and Jo Lindsay.Sacred Star, who was unplaced when resuming in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes, will be ridden by Vinnie Colgan.
“Leith has a retainer with Brendon and that’s made things a bit awkward, but Vinnie is a big race rider and we’ve had a lot of success together,” Pike said.“Sacred Star’s first-up run was a bit disappointing, but he had a good blow afterwards and he has improved.
“We’ll get a good line on him on Saturday– my main concern is whether he’s a summer and autumn horse as that’s when his best form has been for us.”