Fish Eagle ready to soar

Danie Toerien

Trainer Gary Rich kicked off the new year in grand style, with Phaka Imali summoning him into the winner’s enclosure at Hollywoodbets Greyville on New Year’s Day.

The trainer saddles four runners on Wednesday 8 January at the same venue, and he could well strike again with Fish Eagle in Race 7, a Class C Stakes race over 1200m.

“He’s found 1600m a bit steep,” said Rich after Fish Eagle’s two consecutive third place finishes over this distance.

“1400m would be more ideal, but the 1200m came up now and there’s only a 1400m race at the end of the month, so I thought I’d run him here.”

Since the start of the season, Fish Eagle has finished runner-up once to go with his other two places.

Rich also saddles a pair in Race 5, an Open Maiden for fillies and mares over 1600m.

“Dee Day has been running places regularly. There’s one or two to beat, but she is well. I think she has an eachway chance, but whether she can win, I’m not sure.

“Magic Maverick has been disappointing in her races. She shows much better work than what she’s producing on the track. We are more hopeful than anything else.”

The trainer’s other runner on the day is English Primrose, who takes her place in Race 6, a Class C Stakes race over 1800m.

“She’s a bit out at the weights, but I think she can earn a cheque,” said Rich.

English Primrose’s last outing is best ignored as she was inconvenienced at the start and never found her way back into race. That run was also on the turf track, which is not her best.

Before that, English Primrose recorded three consecutive runner-up finishes – albeit in lower class events – but she is most certainly overdue a win on the poly.

Selections:

Race 1: 1 Bring The Magic, 8 Mr Pleasure, 5 River Dance, 2 Fire Tiger

Race 2: 4 Long Street, 2 Shesarocket, 3 Radiant Heat, 8 Di Rosa

Race 3: 5 Forest Jump, 1 King Rahul, 6 Rafiki, 7 Numzaan

Race 4: 6 Green Mile, 5 Freddy Slater, 1 Deserto, 3 The Wolf

Race 5: 8 La Vida Loca, 7 Messalina, 2 Flying Reign Storm, 3 Dee Day

Race 6:  4 Off Limits, 7 English Primrose, 2 Mocha Blend, 9 Queen Amina

Race 7:  6 Fish Eagle, 1 Voldemort, 8 Mc Dazzler, 4 Chakpori