Stratford trainer David Eagar stages an overdue second bid on the Whakatane Cup at Tauranga today.
Fifteen years ago Eagar watched his charge Beaver Boy, in the hands of Greg Childs, finish fourth to Great Estate in the Whakatane Racing Club feature.
Today it will be another "boy" who will carry hishopes in the form of Ebony Boy.
Though he still has a long way to go to match the deeds of Beaver Boy (10 wins and more than $180,000 in stakes), Eagar's latest talented galloper is shaping in the right fashion.
A 4-year-old son of Manntari, Ebony Boy has already won five races and his last two performances rate him one of the "finds" of the winter and a strong chance today.
After winning easily over 2100m at Otaki, Ebony Boy followed up with another decisive victory when scoring at Te Rapa on August 11. The manner in which he won that race persuaded rider Lance O'Sullivan to stick with him.
"He's not very big, but he really tries," Eagar said.
"And he's done well since Te Rapa."
Ebony Boy comes into the handicap for the Whakatane Cup at 52.5kg and has already had experience on the Tauranga track.
He finished fifth to Millennium there last June and the previous season made ground for sixth in his one race on the track.
Ebony Boy is not the only one in the Whakatane Cup chasing back-to-back wins. So are Say Magic, Okiwi Bay and Super Dupa.
Say Magic, a visitor from Ashburton, won the Winter Classic at Riccarton last start and is on trial for the Kelt Capital Stakes, while Okiwi Bay bounced back to winning form at Pukekohe after a three-race Melbourne campaign.
Super Dupa earned a crack at the Whakatane Cup with a progressive grade win at Pukekohe.
Watch Officer, Lady Alate, His Destiny, Oliverdance and No Fibs are others with form credentials to warrant respect.
