Blessed Eagle led a quartet of promising 3-year-olds on Wednesday, producing a sustained display of speed at Warwick Farm.
The smart Farnan 3-year-old colt Blessed Eagle showed he has plenty to offer and is a candidate for better races ahead after a sustained showing of speed for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, scoring in style in the 3-year-old BM68 Handicap at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
There was a bit of drama early, with race favourite Peyton (Zoustar) scratched after getting fractious in the gates. From there, with one less to beat, Chad Schofield rode a race with real intent, speeding the flashy chestnut colt straight to the lead from the outside gate.
Tommy Berry saw the opportunity to work Phillip Island (Written Tycoon) gradually to the outside of the leader, with Reachin' Out (Stay Inside), who many expected to lead, settling in the trail.
Just after turning, Blessed Eagle kicked hard and the result was never really in threat as he cruised to victory by just over two lengths over the 1200 metres.
Phillip Island battled on well for second, while Harrybegood (Harry Angel ) was good in third. The ex-New Zealand filly De Armas (NZ) (Ardrossan) may have only finished fifth, but the flashing light was on her with a solid closing effort against the race pattern.
Bott was pleased to see Blessed Eagle produce the performance he had been looking for and believes the colt can now step up in grade with confidence.
"He's starting to put it together now nicely. I think that was a true indication of what his potential is," Bott said.
"I just wanted to see him put in a performance like that before we step him up in grade.
"I think now we can have the confidence to step him out and potentially even step him up a bit further if we wanted to off the back of how strong he was through the line.
"Whether he could go on to a Roman Consul here or a Brian Crowley at the back end of the carnival, I think they're steps we can have a look at."
Sales info: Blessed Eagle was purchased for $525,000 by George Moore Bloodstock from the Kia Ora Stud draft at the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Blessed Eagle is out of the Canadian Group 3 winner Jennifer Lynnette (Can) (Elusive Quality ), who was purchased by Kia Ora Stud for US$575,000 at the 2018 Fasig Tipton Kentucky November Mixed Sale.
Jennifer Lynnette has already proved herself at stud, with her first foal Royal Tribute (Snitzel) having won the Listed Gosford Guineas among his two wins.
This is also the family of the Group 3 winner and stallion Ishiguru (USA), the dual American Group 1 winner Strategic Maneuver (USA) (Cryptoclearance ) and the American Group 2 winner Cat Fighter (USA) (Storm Cat ).
Jennifer Lynnette, in recent times, has left a 2-year-old filly named Sueno (Snitzel) who was passed in for $450,000 at this year's Magic Millions yearling sale and is now raced by Kia Ora Stud from the stable of Philip and Tommy Stokes, a yearling filly by Snitzel and a Farnan colt that was born earlier this week.
Article c/o TTR Australia & New Zealand
