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A trip to Hong Kong is now on the agenda for the import He’s Eminent after he takes on champion mare Winx at Randwick on Saturday.
Sir Mark Todd, the champion New Zealand equestrian who took over the training of He’s Eminent for his Sydney carnival campaign, said the G1 QEII Cup over 2000m at Sha Tin on April 28 was now being considered for the stud-bound stallion.
Todd said how He’s Eminent performs against Winx in Saturday’s $4 million Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2000m) at Randwick would dictate where the future lies for both himself and the well-bred entire.“Plans seem to be changing quite rapidly at the moment,” said Todd, who is overseeing the preparation of He’s Eminent at Canterbury after he was asked to take out a training licence at the behest of part-owner Sir Peter Vela.
“I am supposed to be going back to the UK to ride at Badminton which is the first week of May but if the horse runs really well on Saturday we might now be going to Hong Kong in two weeks.“It is a case of one run at a time. The plan, if we do go to Hong Kong, is for him to then go back to Europe and maybe look at the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot.”
He’s Eminent looms as a worthy rival for Winx on Saturday after he resumed from a lengthy layoff with a gallant front-running display in the G1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill three weeks ago at his first start in Australia.The five-year-old son of Frankel finished second to the subsequent Tancred Stakes winner Avilius after setting a strong pace at his first outing for seven months.
Todd said he was delighted with his first-up run and his subsequent work at Canterbury where the dual Olympic gold medalist has ridden him in exercise.“I was very happy with the run. He seems to have come through it really well,” Todd said.
“He had been in quarantine and with the flu restrictions and snow and everything else in England he hadn’t actually worked with another horse for nearly six weeks.“He’s very bright and happy in himself, so we will see.
“He’s a lovely horse, I enjoy riding him.“I don’t do any fast work on him, but I like to get on him to have a feel for how he is and he feels great.
“He has been quite sharp since the Ranvet and I think he has improved.“That said, we are under no illusion as to what our task is with Winx. She’s an amazing mare.”
“I don’t think any tactics can beat her. We can only run our own race.”Todd said it was necessary for He’s Eminent to lead as he did in the Ranvet Stakes.
“He’s a horse who likes to bowl along but if something wants to go and make the pace we will be happy to take a sit,” he said.“We have got the best jockey onboard (James McDonald) and It’s his job to think about what’s happening and play it by ear.”
He’s Eminent will jump from barrier three while Winx has drawn the outside barrier nine.