By Richard Edmunds
After snapping a winless streak that spanned six races over 21 months, Group 1 performer Eduardo (Host {Chi}) is ready to return to the big time in Saturday’s G2 Iron Jack Missile S. at Rosehill.
Two years ago, the chestnut gelding made a spectacular start to his career for rookie trainer Sarah Zschoke. After winning his first two starts by big margins, he went in at the deep end and made an immediate impact with a second placing in the G2 Gilgai S., a brilliant win in the G2 Caulfield Sprint and a close third in the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Eduardo picked up another two black-type placings last spring and finished within 1.5l of Nature Strip (Nicconi) when seventh in the G1 Moir S., but he was disappointing in his first two starts in 2020.
A change of ownership saw him move into the Warwick Farm stable of Joe Pride, for whom he made a winning debut over 1100 metres at Rosehill on July 25.
Now Eduardo is back in top-class company, tackling a Missile S. line up that features Group 1 winners Kolding (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Flit (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}), along with last season’s multiple Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}).
Pride is upbeat about his new recruit’s chances.
“He’s just had the one run for us and won it well, so that was a very good way for him to kick off for us,” he said.
“He showed some of the fighting qualities that we were hoping to see in order to convince us that he was back in the right form and right frame of mind to be competitive in some good-quality races.
“He’s done well since that win, and I’ve been very happy with him. He’s had a couple of nice gallops leading into this weekend, which have indicated to me that he’s taken some good improvement out of that first-up run.
“I think a few of the first-uppers might be a little nervous about the prospect of a wet track this weekend, but he’s got a very good record on rain-affected ground and it’ll be no problem for him at all.”
Joe Pride
Eduardo is rated a $4.50 second favourite for Saturday’s race, with star Kiwi mare Melody Belle at $3.90.
Pride said a return to the elite level is a possibility for Eduardo later in his campaign, but no decisions will be made until after Saturday.
“If he runs really well, his benchmark will go up again and then we’ll have to start thinking about some pretty serious races,” he said.
“But I’m not going to get too far ahead of himself. It’s really all about Saturday. We’ll see what he can do there, and that will give us an idea of where we stand for the rest of this preparation. We’re confident that he’s very well heading into the race, so we’ll see what happens.”
