PROMISING Mossman three-year-old Under The Eiffel will have his next start in either the Autumn Stakes Gr.2 (1400m) at Caulfield on February 12 or the CS Hayes Stakes Gr.3 (1400m) at Flemington a week later.
Under The Eiffel proved just as effective at Sandown’s Hillside track as he was on the Lakeside measurement after scoring an emphatic 2.3-lens win in today’s MRC Premier Signs Handicap (1400m).
The Tony Vasil trained gelding started as the $2 favourite on the strength of his 1.5-lens on the Lakeside course on January 19 despite returning from an absence of more than a year.
There was never any doubt that connections of the horse would persevere with him despite the break given a memorable 1.3-lens ay Seymour in the days leading up to Christmas 2009.
Under The Eiffel was beaten a nose on debut two weeks earlier accounting for his only defeat so far.
Vasil said Under The Eiffel had now earned a crack at a feature race with his next start in either the Group Two Autumn Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on February 12 or the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes (1400m) at Flemington a week later.
“It is going to make me feel sick if he wins one of those races because it would show he should have been in the Australian Guineas,” Vasil said.
“We didn’t worry about entering him for the Guineas because he’d had so long off and we didn’t think he was that good.”
Under The Eiffel’s sectional times on Saturday were indicative of him being up to the better-class horses with his last 600m in a scintillating 33.11s.
“Even though he was back near the rear of the field you could see he had them covered and won soft,” Vasil said.
“He’s only a little fella but what he lacks in height he makes up in stature. He’s a very solid horse.
“He’s got a beautiful demeanour, is lovely and quiet, and he looks like he has got plenty of upside.”
“There are certainly better things ahead for him, I would say.”
Under The Eiffel was sold to Aquanita Racing at the 2009 Inglis Premier Yearling sale for just $45,000.
Already with earnings of over $70,000, Under The Eiffel is proving to be a shrewd investment.
“He is a very exciting horse,” Vinery’s Adam White said.
“The last 600m in his two races have been run in 33.90 and 33.65 and you saw how far he come from off the pace in today’s win. He certainly can finish off his races and the mile looks right up his alley.”
“He is also another very good racehorse to have come out of Mossman 2007 crop,” White noted,”which also includes stakeswinners Buffering, Parriwi, Stirling Grove and Hoofit, who incidentially, is also out of a Danehill mare like Under The Eiffel.”
