Three year-old gelding Rock Eagle broke through at his third start, scoring by more than a length over 1400 metres with Vlad Duric in the saddle.
"We hit the front too soon. He was very green all the way up the straight and
was having a look around," said Duric."I was very concerned another horse would come from behind and get us. I had to really get into him in the last furlong, and luckily, he stuck it out and won a nice race in the end."
A $50,000 NZB Select Yearling Sale purchase for Tony Pike Racing from the Bradbury Park draft, Rock Eagle was a successful pinhook having been bought for $21,000 from the Three Bridges draft at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
"He's still very green, which you could see when he hit the front," said rock Eagle's trainer Steven Burridge.
"He'll be a better horse next year. Today, he had a good draw and raced handy, but looking at the way he finished, he is looking for more ground."
Bred by Three Bridges and Richard Pegum, Rock Eagle is the fourth winner from Waverley Express, a half-sister to the dam of New Zealand Derby winner Rosyn.
Stryker stands this spring at a fee of $11,000.
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