STOWPORT trainer Shirley Berger was ecstatic after her former Devonport Cup winner Red Eagle returned to winning form with a last-stride win in a benchmark 82 handicap over an unsuitable 1200 metres at UBET Racing Centre in Launceston last night.
Red Eagle (Bulent Muhcu) settled just off the speed and looked to be out of contention 200m from home but under string urging from Muhcu the flashy chestnut gelding dug deep and burst through a gap close to home tom score a last-stride win over outsider Keukenhof with Our Casanova third ahead of the odds-on favourite Wonzzee.
Red Eagle lost all form last season and Berger was at a loss to explain why her stable star was unable to deliver on race days but a decision tom go “back to basics” has paid dividends.
Berger has been putting Red Eagle through his paces in the show ring to help him regain his focus.
“He was doing dressage at the Burnie Show last week and I’ve even been eventing him and he is thriving on it,” Berger said.
“I am still working him around the hills at home but by changing his work I’ve managed to get him back interested in racing, as he showed tonight,” she said.
Now that Red Eagle has found winning form Berger is keen to give the seven-year-old the chance to win another Devonport Cup.
“I will map out a program aimed at running him in next year’s Devonport Cup,” she said.