A frustrating run of false starts came to a successful end for trainer Greg Eurell as three-year-old Icarus ($16) scored an impressive win in class record time at Sandown.
In Greek mythology, Icarus perished when he flew too close to the sun but for the equine equivalent, Eurell was just pleased to get the career of the storied namesake off the ground after several attempts before the son of O’Lonhro’s debut victory in the Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Plate (1200m).
“He has been so frustrating,” Eurell said.
“We thought he was ready to go to the races and then he went shin sore and we had to put him out.
“Then he’d go shin sore again, and again, and every time we put him out he was getting bigger and stronger.
“To get him to the races and see what he can do, finally.”
Eurell noted a step up to group racing company was now on the cards for the gelding with the Group 2 Tobin Bronze Stakes (1200m) a Morphettville on 27 April the next likely outing.
Icarus’ winning time of 1:10.97 second was just over 1.4 seconds outside of the Sandown Lakeside track record set by Tesbury Jack in 2016.
Icarus scored by 1¾-lengths over the Ciaron Maher-trained Hear The Crowd ($15) with Creek ($11) a ½-head margin away in third.
The bookmaker apps $1.45 favourite A Book Of Days finished fourth.
