A savvy $300,000 purchase for Newgate Bloodstock from the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale, talented Shalaa (IRE) mare Eagle Next claimed a valuable Black Type victory for her owners that now include Newgate and partners at Rosehill on Saturday when taking out the Listed ATC Starlight Stakes (1100m).

As the most expensive yearling filly by Shalaa (IRE) sold at public auction, Eagle Nest has always been a great type, but it’s taken her until the age of five to hit her full potential.

Ridden by Tom Sherry for Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, Eagle Nest led and fought on mightily to defeat slick sprinter Our Kobison by one and a quarter lengths.

With her stakes breakthrough, Eagle Nest advances her record to five wins, four seconds, and a third from 19 starts with earnings of $385,925.

Tom Sherry said he had learned a lot about Eagle Nest after riding her at her most recent start at Randwick.

“When I rode her first-up, when I came back in they said I went too slow,” Sherry said.

“I thought that if I went a bit quicker, I would string them out. I did that today. She travelled well and put a bit of a margin on them at the 400m and she held that to the line. She is a quality mare with a bit of the x-factor about her.”

A $550,000 Inglis Easter buy for IRON / George Moore Bloodstock from the Segenhoe Stud draft, Eagle Nest is a half-sister to Group III winner Kalashnikov from well bred Flying Spur mare Rough Ride, a half-sister to Group I winner Eagle Way and SW’s Assertive Eagle, Impressive Eagle and Soaressa, the dam of Group III winner Thermal Current and stakes-winner Forever Free.