EAGLE TO SOAR AT BENALLA

We have runners in the the north east on Monday with Bottura (Race 2) and Rapid Eagle (Race 3) at Benalla.

Bottura will start in the 3YO Maiden Plate over 1206m and has drawn wide in barrier 13 with Brodie Loy to ride and Mike Moroney has added blinkers to the son of Falvelon at his third start.

“I’ve decided to run,” Moroney said. “The barrier is not ideal but the main thing is the ground - he wants good ground and he’s been struggling to make some of the races we had him nominated for.

“The blinkers have made a big difference to him and if he can finish in the top three than it will make it easier for him to starts in better fields.

“I’d expect him to use his gate speed and be able to get across and I’m expecting him to run a better race.”



Rapid Eagle is in race three, the Maiden Plate over 1406m and will jump from barrier eight under Michael Dee.

The son of Rip Van Winkle finished second last time out over 1230m on a heavy track at Geelong

“He’s on a good track and I’ve elected to take the blinkers off him going up in trip to see if he relaxes a bit better,” Moroney said.

“His last start was more like the ability we’ve seen in him and if he can relax than I do expect him to be right in the finish.”