New Zealand, August 26 – New Zealand based I am Invincible three year-olds Vinnie Eagle and Leeds, both stakes-winners last season at two, are gearing up for spring campaigns aimed at further Black Type success.

Unbeaten in both his New Zealand starts, including success in the Group III Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie, Vinnie Eagle hasn’t raced since he was unplaced in the Inglis Classic at Randwick in January.

“Unfortunately, he injured a knee in Sydney, but he’s coming up really well and weather dependent he will trial at Avondale on September 2,” said his trainer Tony Pike.

“He’ll then kick off in the Northland Breeders’ Stakes and follow a similar path to what Sacred Falls did a few years ago.”

Sacred Falls won the Listed Westbury Stud-sponsored event at Ruakaka before reigning supreme in the Group II Hawke’s Bay Guineas, the Group III Sarten Memorial and in the Group I New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Vinnie Eagle has won up to 1200 metres and Pike is optimistic the talented colt will handle more ground.

“As a three-year-old I think he will – he is more of a sprinter than a miler, but against his own age group he should get the mile,” he said.

“We’ll have more of an idea after the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and the Sarten.”

Awapuni trainer Mike Breslin believes he has a serious contender on his hands in the shape of exciting grey colt Leeds.

Leeds finished fifth after racing wide and greenly in his debut and then returned after a let-up to win at Awapuni and triumph in the Listed Castletown Stakes at Wanganui.

“He’s a gorgeous horse and he’s developed,” Breslin said. “He came back weighing 540kg and when he raced in the Castletown he was 505kg so he did very well during a break.

“He showed plenty of ability from his first jump-out, which he won – he’s a quality horse.”

Leeds is likely to resume over 1200 metres in a Rating 75 event on his home track on September 13.

“He’s had three or four run alongs and he’s coming up nicely,” Breslin said. “As long as he runs well first-up we’ll maybe look at the Hawke’s Bay Guineas and give him the opportunity against the better three-year-olds.

“He works looks like a horse that will go over a bit of ground, particularly against his own age, and tucks his head on his chest and gets on with it.” – Source NZ Racing Desk