Free Eagle

The Dermot Weld-trained juvenile is already 12/1 favourite for next year's Investec Derby with Sky Bet after a scintillating display at Leopardstown which saw him come home five and a half lengths clear of his nearest rival.

A half-brother to Weld's Sapphire, who won on Champions Day at Ascot last year, the son of High Chaparral looks to have a huge future.

"He's a lovely horse. I don't get too bullish about them normally because that's not my style but this lad has been exciting us all year," Smullen told At The Races.

"We were really looking forward to him making his debut and he was as impressive as we hoped he would be. You'd have to be taken by his manner of victory.

"We're very excited about his future but he'll need to develop, I was surprised the other day how immature he looked in the paddock compared to the others.


"It will be softly-softly, that's always been the boss's style so it won't change for this one and I'd imagine he'll have one more run (this season).

"We'll then put him away and he's certainly something that will shorten the winter for us. I'm just glad we have him."

should imagine entered in National stks(although thats a drop to seven) @ curragh,mid sept?would have thought the  obvious target would be  the beresford @ cuuragh end of sept.Was as you say very impressive on debut and we will get more of an idea next time up,but as often happens 10s after a maiden win?although 2nd (Orchestra) won an egg spoon race very easily,its not for me at this present time.

I think some 16 & 12/1 was available but it amazes me what prices people take on maiden winners. He is by a Derby winner High Chapparal and Weld trained the Dam Polished Jem but she wasn't much good. I think he has trained a few of her offspring but cannot remember the names!

custom cut was one of her offspring and trained by Mr.Weld up until last year,i believe

That Kingfisher has just give the form a boost, Very impressive at Killarney tonight.

9L kingfisher won by,they'll probably shorten free eagle further(33s for the derby tonights winner)

Sometimes the bookies do you a favour. Had he been 20/1 after his maiden win I may have bet him for next years classics but because they went ridiculously short they saved me a few bob.

obvious to say winner was most impressive,i'd put him away now,still looked green to me,plenty of size and scope

Yep Australia looked the part I'm guessing he will go to the RP Trophy. Saying that Free Eagle ran a v strange race. Traveled like the best horse then when Australia came up he had no reply and Smullen seemingly didn't want to ask him to do anything either.

Totally agree with your Smullen comments MM. For a 2nd run of the season, thought Smullen would of tried harder? It's not like he would be bottoming out FE. Would like to see Australia run again before I make a definitive comment of this race. Very "strange" race indeed??

had Free Eagle running around 20lbs slower than his debut win over CD. Can only assume Smullen knew something wrong with the horse and didn't ask him anything.

The winner is decent, but quotes of 6/1 for Guineas and Derby are complete overreaction to a race that fell apart. War Command would be a grade higher than Australia over the Guineas trip imo

I didn't rate Free Eagle particularly highly on debut. GLB won despite running below his best that day and Free Eagle's time was over a second slower carrying 4lbs less, so nothing special really. He did do it nicely, though, and it was obviously only his first start so you'd hope there was more to come. It didn't materialise at all yesterday but I wouldn't say he ran well below form, I have him running 2lbs worse than debut. I have Australia just 1lb behind War Command, but as Australia's performance was achieved over 1 mile and he's more of a middle distance prospect then I'm more impressed by that. Australia is on my Derby shortlist (although I have no interest whatsoever in backing him now), War Command is only on my 'to be opposed at a short price' list

Agree with that Figgis (not your last WC comment, of course). The surprise for me was that FA didn't show any improvement when some could have been expected. He travelled well but once Australia went by Smullen seemed to me to be less than forceful. Why? Must be given another chance.

I was nevertheless most taken with Australia and on projections I have him higher than WC! but the RP Top Speed figure is just 89 which for me is well on the low side.The ground was faster than we were led to believe (hence The Fugue not disadvantaged) and even without deterioration adjustment, I get a good fit for all races right through to Pique Sous.(Missed that one - he was on my NH list).

I would guess that the traditional route of Ballysax/Derrinstown will be taken with this one.Surely they won't drop him back for the Dewhurst so the RP race looks the most likely if there is to be another run as a 2 yr old.The A/P price is as usual ludicrous for a race 9 months away.

NB Free Eagle given TS rating of 100 for first run

Meant to add that TS rated FE 71 on Sat.

Sandown

Yes, I also thought improvement was likely from Free Eagle, although I try not to fall into the trap of betting on expected improvement, as usually the betting has already factored in improvement like it's a given. Pundits and commentators always say a horse will improve for its debut, when a look at past evidence tells us this is far from certain. Also have to say I've found Weld's young horses pretty disappointing in recent years. I can see why Topspeed has given a low figure, my allowance for the race is a bit unorthodox, I could be wrong but I'm happy to rate it on the higher side at this stage.

thought it was odd that Smullen never at any stage was going to pick up the whip? He never even bothered taking either of his hands off the reins to even wave his stick at Free Eagle.

If you didn't know better, it looked more like a training ground gallop with the riders wearing race silks as far as Free Eagle concerned. Can only assume Smullen knew there was something wrong with the horse, having gone from travelling very easily with O'Brien the first to push along on Australia, and then seeing Australia come along aside and Free Eagle gone in a stride.

Have the winner improving from 93+ to 100+, still well short of War Command, Berkshire and Kingman

for what it is worth i was there and free eagle looked big and leggy and looked a little weak ,i would say he will be a lot different next year while the other's looked more filled out and much stronger .the one that caught my eye the most was agena he had a big belly on him ,and for that reason i didnt back him but he was the best looker in that paddock ,but the fact he won means il be keeping my on this fella ,interesting to know how the time boy's rated that race .

I'm sure we'd all agree on this that the time was very poor, this was due to the farcical early pace and no reflection on Agena's ability. Under the circumstances I thought he did well to come from the back, but I have no idea how good he really is.

thank's figgis ,il wait and see how he runs next time and what company he keeps before i pull any trigger's ,he just didnt look fit at all

Thanks for those paddock views lingbleed, I always find that stuff very useful. So do you think it's possible with Free Eagle being weak that he may have needed more time to get over his first run?

stevie i would definitely  say that . Unless he fills out in the next month or so he is going to struggle against some of the bigger more developed 2yr old .i would love to see him next time out in the flesh just so i could compare ,so if he run's in ireland which knowing who his trainer is very likely il get there .But i would think we wont see him again this year ,compared to the other's and definite the winner he had long skinny legs just lacking the strength of the others ,but looks to have the most scope , and he wont be winning any guineas that's for sure.you can see when he develops next year and get's stronger he looks very much a athlete ,i can see why they were talking derby and nothing shorter

Pretty sure Weld said that's it for Free Eagle this year, lingbleed.
He's not one to rush anything either.

So could be the Derrinstown for his first start next season then, perhaps you'll get to see him in the paddock then lingbleed.

It's at this time of year when horses grow if I remember correctly. Horses that haven't yet filled their frame will grow at this time of the year. At that time some trainers back off and allow them to grow because they are weakened. Can anyone back that up I remember being told something along those lines a long time ago.