Alpine Eagle was not among the PB Lawrence Stakes nominations but trainer Tony McEvoy says the exciting galloper is nearing a return to racing.
The son of High Chaparral shaped as one of the most promising horses in Australia in his three-year-old season before a cracked pedal bone derailed his spring four-year-old campaign.
Alpine Eagle has had one run, for a fifth at Morphettville in May, since finishing less than a length from the winner in the Group I Makybe Diva Stakes (1600m) but McEvoy is thrilled with his progress.
McEvoy said the five-year-old could resume at Group I level in the coming weeks.
"It will be maybe the Memsie (Stakes on August 27)," Memsie said.
"He might have a jumpout at Flemington beforehand. I'll decide this week whether he has a jumpout or he goes straight in."
McEvoy said Alpine Eagle "galloped beautifully" at Flemington on Saturday morning, showing he was over the problem but he needs a few more hitouts before he resumes his career.
"He's just been galloping away. I'm really happy with him," McEvoy said.
"He's just not fit yet. He hasn't got heavy because he's an athlete but he's just got to do a bit more work."
McEvoy said Luke Currie was a front-runner for the ride on Alpine Eagle through the spring but the stallion's owner, leading winemaker Wolf Blass, would have the final say on a jockey.
Ladbrokes has Alpine Eagle as a $41 chance in both its Cox Plate and Caulfield Cup markets.
