Racing: Tough to land Eagle Stakes

For tomorrow's $70,000 Eagle Technology Stakes it might pay to totally ignore the two preparation starts from Sakhee's Soldier.

The group one winner has finished seventh and an eighth since resuming this season, but that is hardly representative of his class and ability.

Co-trainer Murray Baker is unconcerned. "He's a year older and it's taken longer to get the weight off him and get him properly fit. He's pretty close to his best again."

Although Sakhee's Soldier has won in slow conditions, Baker is hoping the predicted rain does not come to much. "He wouldn't want a lot of rain."

At $7 he looks good value for a horse with his record.

Baker reports his Derby/Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan was yesterday released from the Werribee Veterinary Clinic where he had been kept since falling ill in the lead-up to the Melbourne Cup.

"They kept him in for so long as a precaution. He'll be back home (in New Zealand) in a couple of weeks. He seems fine, thank goodness."

The early TAB Final Field market has Rasa Lila as the $3.20 favourite, doubtless as a result of her stunning last-to-first Ellerslie win on Melbourne Cup day. The finish Rasa Lila produced was remarkable and a similar wind-up would take her close again even though this is a tougher field.

Co-trainer Stephen Ramsay says Rasa Lila has done very well since that last-start victory. "That No 11 barrier doesn't look brilliant, but if rain arrives it might play into her hands. The race is late and the footing away from the rail might be better."

Survived, from his new stable, has shown a suggestion of a return to his best form recently. His best has been in staying contests and Moira Murdoch is reasonably confident he has not taken the speed out of his legs for yet another 1600m.

"I'm certainly hoping he hasn't anyway. He certainly doesn't think he has. Survived has never been an easy horse to ride. A good fast pace suits him because it's easier to ride him when the speed is on."

Smart emerging mare Stolen Dance beat Survived two lengths when he finished third to her at Te Rapa at her last start. Survived had 4kg more that day and this time meets Stolen Dance 2kg better, which should account for much of that two lengths.

Two mares, Queens Rose and Kelly O'Reilly, filled the minor placings behind Soriano in the stakes race at Avondale last weekend. Both are better suited under the different conditions here -- Kelly O'Reilly dropping 2kg and Queens Rose 3.5kg.

The $50,000 Trevor Eagle Memorial brings together a long list of emerging 3-year-olds. There is an enormous amount of form going into the race -- 12 in the field have won one of their last two races.

The TAB favourite is Dragon Dancer, unbeaten in two starts this preparation. Raghu, Sultan of Swing and Dukedom have all looked good winning.

Weekend pointers
Fitter this time: Passing Shot, R3 Ellerslie: Faded after leading on debut, but likely to be tougher to bowl tomorrow.
Big last start: Dukedom, R7 Ellerslie: Outside barrier cost him dearly last time. Barrier bad again, but can't be that unlucky again.
Emerging stayer: Southern Dancer, R1 Ellerslie: Bolted home in first attempt at a staying test. Barrier only worry.