Speed machine Vinnie Eagle has beaten the best in New Zealand and now the precocious youngster is set to put his perfect record to the test in Sydney.

The Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue-trained two-year-old was put aside after a debut victory in the spring and returned in style with a slick performance to claim the G3 Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

Vinnie Eagle (2g I Am Invincible – Sweet Maggie by Danehill Dancer) showed blistering gate speed to lead and, despite racing greenly, was unchallenged to win by over two lengths.  “That was a hot field,” Pike said.  “He had a good look around half-way down the straight and will take improvement from that fitness-wise.

“He won at Ruakaka, and wasn’t overly impressive, but he has strengthened up a lot since and his lead-up trial was super.  He’s eligible for the Inglis Classic at Rosehill on January 18 and that’s always been the target.”

Pike purchased Vinnie Eagle for $65,000 000 from Lustre Lodge at the 2013 Inglis Sydney Classic Summer Book on behalf of stable client Colin Keane.

Vinnie Eagle is by Yarraman Park’s leading first-season sire I Am Invincible who was also purchased as a yearling from the Inglis Sydney Classic Sale.  He is out of a half-sister to Group 1 winner Nashville (Darci Brahma).

I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) has hit the ground running with his initial crop of two year-olds.  He is also the sire of LR BRC Phelan Ready Stakes winner Bassillique and Flemington winner I Am the General.