Australian Racing: Intrepid Eagle can swoop to victory

There are a number of interesting meetings scheduled for Friday, including at Moonee Valley where an eight-race card has been programmed.

Race 8 Moonee Valley

Intrepid Eagle @ 5.00

Race 7 Newcastle

Sandpaper @ 3.60

Race 6 Newcastle

Ambassadors @ 7.00

Eagle to fly at The Valley

The finale is a competitive renewal of the Summer Sprint Series Final, a 1200m Benchmark 78 handicap expected to take place on a good 4 track.

Boston Rocks has been in good form in recent months for the Matthew Dale stable, including when winning at Rosehill last month.

The four-year-old registered a narrow victory, having jumped at $11 for a Benchmark 78 handicap held over 1100m on that occasion.

Boston Rocks had previously lost out by less than two lengths when sixth in a similar contest held over this distance at Randwick the previous month.

The son of Hellbent looks opposable in this event however, with INTREPID EAGLE the pick.

This gelding has shown winning form at this venue in the past, while his most recent victory came when contesting a 1200m Benchmark 70 handicap at Sandown at the end of January.

Intrepid Eagle has made just one subsequent start with that effort seeing him place third when contesting a Benchmark 78 handicap over this course and distance last month.

Trained by Tony & Calvin McEvoy, Intrepid Eagle jumped from a double-figure barrier last time out and he has had better luck barrier-wise for this event.

Luke Currie, on board for the gelding’s last two efforts, is again set to ride and with plenty in his favour here his mount looks up to delivering the sixth win of his career.

Sandpaper for Newcastle success

The feature race of the day is the Group 3 Horsepower Newcastle Stakes which comes up as the seventh race on an eight-race card at Newcastle.

A soft 5 track is expected for the race, with Makarena likely to have her supporters on her second start back from a spell.

The daughter of Snitzel performed well last prep, including in winning in Group 2 company in the 1400m Golden Pendant at Rosehill.

This four-year-old returned to action with a solid effort in losing out by just over one-and-a-half-lengths when fourth in the 1300m Group 2 Millie Fox Stakes back at Rosehill last month.

While the filly jumped as a short-priced favourite that day, Makarena usually improves for her first run back and looks to hold strong claims here.

SANDPAPER is preferred for the Bjorn Baker stable however, with the gelding stepping up in grade following a string of top-three efforts this prep.

This selection resumed with a Benchmark 78 handicap win over 1200m at Wyong and has placed in the city in all three subsequent outings.

Those placed efforts include a good second when contesting a 1600m Benchmark 88 handicap at Randwick last time out.

Sandpaper jumped from a wide barrier on that occasion, with the drop back in distance no issue in this event.

Tim Clark is set to ride here and the five-year-old can provide him with his second win in the race, having taken it on board Cross Talk two years ago.

Ambassadors to deliver Newcastle victory

Earlier on the Newcastle card the sixth race of the day is a 1500m Benchmark 64 handicap.

The Richard & Will Freedman-trained Etched In Times is expected to feature prominently in the betting, having performed well when third here in September.

Etched In Times raced over 1600m in a Benchmark 64 handicap when beaten less than half-a-length into third on that occasion and he resumed with a sixth of seven at Canterbury last month.

The son of Written Tycoon drops down from Benchmark 72-level racing for this event and he holds obvious claims with Regan Bayliss up.

Zoustar gelding AMBASSADORS has shown a liking for this circuit in the past, winning twice here including by half-a-length in a 1600m Benchmark 64 handicap last July.

The five-year-old raced on a wet track on that occasion and he has gone on to place third twice in wet conditions subsequently.

Ambassadors was spelled following a down-the-field effort over 1600m on a sound surface at Randwick in September and he showed good form when runner-up at Wyong on his return.

Nathan Doyle’s representative was beaten just over a length in a 1350m Benchmark 64 handicap that day and he is expected to have improved for that first run back.