A sparkling track gallop by Impressive Eagle this week convinced trainer Leon Macdonald to give her a chance at Group One glory on Saturday, but then he heard about Northern Meteor.The Gai Waterhouse-trained three-year-old is the even-money favourite for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington following his demolition of his heat rivals in a trial there on Tuesday.Impressive Eagle, the only filly in the nine-horse field, is on the second line of betting alongside Wilander at $6.50."I had
A sparkling track gallop by Impressive Eagle this week convinced trainer Leon Macdonald to give her a chance at Group One glory on Saturday, but then he heard about Northern Meteor.
The Gai Waterhouse-trained three-year-old is the even-money favourite for the Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington following his demolition of his heat rivals in a trial there on Tuesday.
Impressive Eagle, the only filly in the nine-horse field, is on the second line of betting alongside Wilander at $6.50.
"I had her nominated for the Cadbury Roses on Oaks day but after she galloped this week I decided she deserved a go at the Group One," Macdonald said.
"She has pleased me with her work but it is going to be very hard against Northern Meteor who looks outstanding."
Northern Meteor has had just four starts, two for John Hawkes when he finished seventh and third in August, before Eduardo Cojuangco's Gooree syndicate transferred all its racing team to Waterhouse.
The premier Sydney trainer has had a long association with Gooree, most notably with grand Group One campaigner Desert War.
At his first start for Waterhouse, Northern Meteor attracted attention with his track record-breaking win over 1250 metres at Canterbury.
But his scintillating performance to dominate the Brian Crowley Stakes and set a new standard of 1:08.32 for 1200 metres at Randwick cemented his arrival as a serious sprinter.
That win was the catalyst for changing plans to run in the Hawkesbury Guineas in favour of the Coolmore with Waterhouse now talking up an overseas campaign next year.
The colt was the star of Tuesday's 800 jumpouts, posting a time of 46.5 seconds, two seconds faster than heat winners Takeover Target and Triple Honour.
Northern Meteor will be ridden by Nash Rawiller after an unsuccessful appeal by Blake Shinn against a careless riding suspension incurred at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Wilander stamped his class with victory over Lucky Secret in the Schillaci Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on October 11 while Impressive Eagle comes into the race off an unlucky neck second to Damselfly in the Thoroughbred Club Stakes (1200m) on the same day.
Impressive Eagle's four starts have netted victory in the Dequetteville Stakes at home in Adelaide in July and three placings.
Golden Slipper runner-up and Caulfield Guineas placegetter Von Costa De Hero is at $7.50 with Fist Of Fury, the winner of two restricted races in Sydney, at $9.