This year's G1 Prince of Wales's S. scorer Free Eagle (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) has been retired to join the Irish National Stud roster in 2016, and owner/breeder Moyglare Stud's breeding advisor Fiona Craig said the 4-year-old exited his planned swansong in the G1 Hong Kong Cup “fine, just very tired.” After appearing poised for a run rounding the turn in Sunday's race, Free Eagle faded to finish last of 13 at Sha Tin.
“He looked great before the race and his weight was spot-on. The Rosewell staff who traveled with him–Patrick O'Brien and Carlos Athilas–did a great job, but we think the year and the travel just caught up with him,” Craig explained. “[Jockey] Pat [Smullen] felt the ground was as fast as he would want and when asked for an effort he just ran flat. He vetted out sound after the race; there was a trace of mucus on the scope, which would not have helped, but we're not using it as an excuse.”
'TDN Rising Star' Free Eagle displayed brilliance early on in his interrupted career, winning last year's G3 KPMG Enterprise S. off a year layoff and finishing third in the G1 Champion S., and his Prince of Wales's score came first-up off eight months' rest. Free Eagle was third in the G1 Qipco Irish Champion S. after falling victim of interference from the winner, Golden Horn (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}), in the stretch, and was sixth in the G1 Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe prior to his Hong Kong sojourn.
“We have had great times and a great range of emotions with Free Eagle,” Craig reflected. “He is a gorgeous individual and a brilliant talent, but at the same time we also had our share of frustrations, plus the odd bump along the way. But he is a star and is now off to stud and we look forward to racing some of his offspring in a few years' time.”
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