Trainer has Eagle ready to swoop in Windsor Cup

TONY PIKE has no qualms about throwing Allez Eagle into the Group I cauldron at Trentham tomorrow.

The strapping son of Guillotine is up for the challenge of the Windsor Park Plate in the eyes of his Cambridge trainer.

A record of eight wins from 16 starts confirms he is a galloper from the top drawer. He has a great chance to prove it in the $200,000 race run at weight-for-age over 1600 metres.

Pike gave Allez Eagle a Group I opportunity last season as a 4-year-old and his fourth to Pondarosa Miss in the Easter Handicap was a hint at what the future holds. He leaps in weight from a luxurious 53.5kg in the Easter to a formidable 59kg in Saturday’s race but that doesn’t concern his astute trainer.

‘‘He’s a big strong horse and I think he will cope with the weight no problem,’’ Pike said.

‘‘He’s very well in himself and his work since Hastings has been equal to his best.’’

A last start Group III victor in the Spring Sprint, Allez Eagle, to be ridden by Danielle Johnson, narrowly defeated Recite, one of his major dangers on Saturday.

Recite, the mount of Rosie Myers and trained by John Bary at Hastings, subsequently ran second to another rival, Kisses, in the Taranaki Breeders Stakes. Kisses dominated Recite in that race but has a tough 12 draw for jockey Samantha Collett to navigate.

Two of the Group I Livamol Classic (2040m) stars at Hastings front up in the Windsor Park.

Despite a drop back in distance, Livamol winner Addictive Habit and Nashville (fourth) have the class to conquer the challenge.