David Hayes will set potential top class sprinter Eagle Falls for a second-up crack at the $1 million Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March.Hayes said the four-year-old would resume in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 20 as a pipe-opener for his tilt at the 1200m straight race on March 6.The trainer has already snared the first of the Melbourne's autumn Group One sprint treble with Nicconi taking out Saturday's Lightning Stakes."We've been dodging the weight-for-age races

David Hayes will set potential top class sprinter Eagle Falls for a second-up crack at the $1 million Newmarket Handicap at Flemington in March.

Hayes said the four-year-old would resume in the Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on February 20 as a pipe-opener for his tilt at the 1200m straight race on March 6.

The trainer has already snared the first of the Melbourne's autumn Group One sprint treble with Nicconi taking out Saturday's Lightning Stakes.

"We've been dodging the weight-for-age races this year to have Eagle Falls well weighted for the Newmarket," Hayes said.

Eagle Falls hasn't raced since failing over 1600 metres when 14th to stablemate All American in the Emirates Stakes at Flemington on November 7.

The gelding had undergone throat surgery to correct his breathing after finishing sixth to Heart Of Dreams in the Australian Guineas at Flemington last autumn.

Hayes said the operation had been an outstanding success with Eagle Falls winning four of seven races since, including the Group Two Salinger Stakes (1200m) when he defeated Turffontein at Flemington on Derby Day last spring.

Hayes is hoping Eagle Falls can emulate his former top sprinter-miler Primacy by winning the Newmarket.

Primacy won the 1993 Newmarket as a three-year-old and the following season claimed the 1993 Nissan (now Emirates) Stakes, 1994 C F Orr Stakes and Futurity Stakes.

Hayes rated the "unsound" gelding as his best sprinter until this weekend when Nicconi claimed that title with a brilliant victory in the Group One Lightning Stakes at Flemington on Saturday.

Hayes has likened Eagle Falls to Primacy who, a week before winning the Emirates, had finished third to stablemate Alishan in the Group One Gadsden Stakes (1200m), now recognised as the Patinack Farm Classic.

Eagle Falls, who didn't race at two, has won six of his 12 starts up to 1200 metres and was runner-up to Pre Eminence in the Group Two Alister Clark Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley last autumn.

He is currently at $18 for the Newmarket with TAB Sportsbet which has unbeaten filly Black Caviar and 2009 Patinack Farm Classic winner All Silent equal favourites at $5.