Skyhook lands plunge to launch Golden Eagle bid in style

Skyhook delivered the perfect first audition for the Golden Eagle after a sustained betting plunge ended in a dominant win in the Theo Marks Stakes at Rosehill.

Source: https://www.punters.com.au/news

Skyhook delivered the perfect first audition for a $10m Golden Eagle tilt with an impressive fresh triumph at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

A sustained betting plunge saw the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained entire heavily supported into an even-money favourite and he didn't disappoint, dominating the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m).

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy got it right from an outside draw to have Skyhook perfectly poised in the one-one position behind the leaders.

Skyhook ripped clear late to score by 1¼ lengths from Magnatear ($26) with Verona Rose ($7) a close third.

"It was good to get the preparation underway with a win like that, obviously we have the Golden Eagle in our sights and he is going to have to improve off that again," Alexiou said.

"He has come back a good horse, the trip to Queensland has done him the world of good.

"He has really come of age now and it was a great ride by Kerrin (McEvoy) he really offset that barrier straight away."


McEvoy and Skyhook have proven to be a formidable partnership after first combining to win a Group 3 Pago Pago Stakes when the son of Written Tycoon.

He rode Skyhook in his final Brisbane winter start when he was an emphatic winner of the Group 3 Gunsynd Classic (1600m) at Eagle Farm.

McEvoy believes Skyhook is ready to go to a whole new level.

"I think he's in for his best preparation yet," he said.

"He feels bigger and developed. Behind the gates, he was walking around like he owned the place.

"It's always a good sign for a horse moving forward in a prep. His trials have been pleasing and it was a nice kick-off point today. We got into a nice trailing spot, and he was able to produce a nice finish.

"I was always confident that he would pick up and get going. I think this could be his best prep yet."

Skyhook was shortened from $15 into $11 to win the Golden Eagle where superstar mare Sheza Alibi is a $1.60 favourite.

How Ryan and Alexiou plot a course to the four-year-old feature remains to be seen with several options available.

Alexiou ruled out running Skyhook in the $1.5m Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) in three weeks' time.

"We will see how he gets through today but it could be a (Group 2) Shannon Stakes in two weeks, an (Group 3) Alan Brown Stakes or it could be a (Group 3) Silver Eagle," Alexiou said.

"There are plenty of options there for her but we will how she gets through this run and make up our mind in the next week or so.

"The Golden Eagle is in the main aim. After his last start in Queensland, we basically worked backwards from the Golden Eagle, how we thought we could get him there in his best form."