Weld - Eagle to soar over further
Free Eagle (left) holds off The Grey Gatsby to win the Prince Of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot
Dermot Weld is confident a step up to a mile and a half is well within range for Free Eagle following his thrilling success in the Prince of Wales's Stakes at Royal Ascot.
The son of High Chaparral secured his third win from just five starts and his first at Group One level when narrowly outpointing The Grey Gatsby in Wednesday's feature event.
He is set to stick at a mile and a quarter on his next start, with the Juddmonte International at York and Leopardstown's Irish Champion Stakes under consideration, before stepping up in distance for a tilt at the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October.
"It was just one of those special days. He's a very talented horse. Unfortunately a lot of people never got the opportunity to see his real talent, but we're beginning to see it now," Weld told At The Races.
"We always saw natural talent in him and then we had a chapter of problems, but that's behind us and it's onwards and upwards.
"He's got an excellent Group One now behind his name and hopefully we can go on to more Group Ones with him.
"We haven't made final decisions yet, but you look at the Juddmonte International, you look at the Irish Champion Stakes and hopefully the Arc would be the final aim for him.
"He's a very high-class horse over a mile and a quarter, but I have every reason to believe he'll get a mile and a half."
