Queensland Derby 2016: Eagle sets flight for Hong Kong as Bryan Guy’s training operation sprouts wings

BRYAN Guy fought back tears as vowed his fabulous Queensland Derby triumph with Eagle Way would be the perfect springboard for a new family training partnership.

Tommy Berry rises as Eagle Way thunders to a powerful win. Picture: AAP

EMOTIONAL Bryan Guy fought back tears as vowed his fabulous Queensland Derby triumph with Eagle Way would be the perfect springboard for a new family training partnership.

The Gold Coast trainer snapped the Queensland big-race drought at the Winter Carnival and won his first Group 1 in more than two decades.

He will lose Eagle Way to Hong Kong but will soon gain a new co-trainer when son Daniel joins him in the business.

‘’I’m going into a training partnership with my son and this (the Queensland Derby win) is something I needed to kick us off,’’ Guy said.

‘’This is a great thrill winning the Derby and it will be just as big a thrill to have my son training in partnership with me.’’

Eagle’s Way’s dominant Derby win turned back time to when Guy claimed Group 1s in Queensland with 1994 Stradbroke winner All Our Mob and 1995 T.J. Smith champion Ravarda.

Jockey Tommy Berry sends the Hong Kong bound Eagle Way to the front. Picture: AAP

Eagle Way is owned by champion Hong Kong trainer John Moore, who was persuaded by Guy to keep the horse in Australia and let it be aimed at the Derby.

Moore, the son of riding legend George Moore who has trained many champions in Hong Kong, said he was “ecstatic” to have won his first Group 1 race as an owner.

“I have never been so nervous before a race. It’s a huge thrill,” Moore said.

Jockey Tommy Berry celebrates his victory aboard Eagle Way. Picture: AAP

“As a trainer I’m quite calm, that was a completely different as an owner.”

Guy now has a task on his hands convincing Moore he should stay here to be aimed at the big spring features.

“Eagle Way will be put on the market and I’m quite sure there will be some clients who are prepared to pay big money for him in Hong Kong,” Moore said.

“He’s gone one better than Werther (last year’s Derby runner-up) and given what he’s gone on to do in Hong Kong this season, it will put this horse on a lot of people’s radars.”

Eagle Way was perfectly ridden by Tommy Berry, who replaced regular rider Paul Hammersley for the Derby assault.

The field passes the finish post on the first occasion in Queensland Derby. Picture: AAP

It gave the popular Guy a clean-sweep of the three Group 1 races which are traditionally run on Stradbroke Day.

‘’I have won the Stradbroke and also the JJ Atkins and now the Derby, so it has been an enormous day for me,” Guy said.

‘’I must admit I’m very sad I’m going to lose him but he will go to Hong Kong now and be aimed at the Derby there.

“I told John about six months ago I would win the Derby for him with this horse.

“He told me that was good because he couldn’t train a Group 1 winner in Australia, so he might as well own one.”

Owner John Moore (left) and Bryan Guy celebrates after winning the Queensland Derby with Eagle Way.

Originally published as Queensland Derby 2016: Eagle sets flight for Hong Kong as Bryan Guy’s training operation sprouts wings