Alpine Eagle made trainer Tony McEvoy's trip to Melbourne worthwhile with a strong jumpout effort at Werribee on Monday.
Alpine Eagle has not raced since finishing less than a length from Fawkner in the Group I Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) at Flemington in September last year before a cracked pedal bone ended his spring.
McEvoy was in Sydney inspecting yearlings on Sunday but headed to Werribee to be on hand for the jumpout before returning to the Inglis sale grounds.
Mark Zahra was aboard the son of High Chaparral, who stepped out in the first heat of the morning.
The Group II Autumn Classic winner settled off the pace in the 1050m heat before working home to beat the Mark Kavanagh-trained Iron Boss by about a neck, clocking 1:08.07 for the trip.
"I was extremely happy," McEvoy said.
"He began nicely, he settled and the best report of all – the one I was waiting for – was from Mark when he said he had the confidence to stretch out and hit out properly.
"He was going to win it really comfortably then his condition gave out and he emptied in the last 100(m).
"I was really pleased with it."
McEvoy said Alpine Eagle "had a good blow" after the jumpout and would need another trial before he decided on a return race for the four-year-old.
Below is a replay of Alpine Eagle's Werribee jumpout. Zahra wears Alpine Eagle's normal brown jacket with gold sleeves.
