EAGLE ONE ready to pounce in Sunday’s feature

EAGLE ONE gave it his best shot two Sundays ago, attempting to slip NUCLEAR NOON by getting first run on stablemate MADELYN’S SUNSHINE in the Millard Ziadie at five and a half furlongs. However, he was forced wave the white flag inside the last half-furlong after in-form NUCLEAR NOON powered through to win in a strong 1:07.1.

Returning quickly for Sunday’s Henry W Jaghai feature at six furlongs with a token four-pound rise at the scale, EAGLE ONE again has his United States-bred compatriot, MADELYN’S SUNSHINE, as the horse to chase in the nine-horse field.

Champion trainer Jason DaCosta has an iron grip on the event, throwing in local-bred filly, OUTBIDDER, who will run with 108lb, thanks to claiming-rider Abigail Able’s seven-pound bug.

Though light, OUTBIDDER would prefer a more relaxed pace, especially being a newcomer against seasoned overnight-allowance stablemates. MADELYN’S SUNSHINE has only been led twice in nine outings, chasing on the other two occasions, which tells the tale of the splits to expect in the first five furlongs.

MADELYN’S SUNSHINE and EAGLE ONE attempted to run a relay on NUCLEAR NOON in the Millard Ziadie. However, no sooner had EAGLE ONE ranged up to challenge MADELYN’S SUNSHINE a furlong out, NUCLEAR NOON was all over him, franking the form of his last two races, beaten by YELLOWSTONE in January and run off his legs when allowing EMPEROROFTHECATS weight on last.

After NUCLEAR NOON went by in the Millard Ziadie, EAGLE ONE was clearly second-best, finishing a length and quarter ahead of weakening MADELYN’S SUNSHINE, who blew up after ripping splits of 23.0, 34.4 and 46.3.

MADELYN’S SUNSHINE might not be in such a hurry this time around but runs a half-furlong longer and still has topweight 126lb, allowing EAGLE ONE, who will prefer the additional half-furlong to reel in his speedy stablemate.