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By Ray Hickson

The pressure cooker of the Golden Eagle was just a bit too much for In The Congo but jockey Tim Clark is quietly confident the four-year-old can atone in Saturday’s $1m The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle.

Last year’s Golden Rose winner, trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, was beaten four lengths in the Eagle and Clark was full of praise in the horse’s effort given at no stage in the 1500m contest was he able to come up for air.

“He ran really well in the Golden Eagle, it was a very courageous effort,’’ Clark said.

“He showed nice speed, doing a little bit I guess early. It was obviously a big field and it generated a bit of pressure, Mr Mozart came around and maintained that pressure during the race.

“I thought he was still able to give a kick into the straight but that last bit he was found wanting.

“If he got a soft time of it he’d be able to run 1500m. But in those high pressure races it makes it a bit harder.”

In The Congo, $4.20 favourite with TAB on Friday, has had seven starts without success since his Golden Rose win but he was narrowly beaten in the Galaxy at Group 1 level in the autumn and placed behind Mazu.

In The Congo's run in the Golden Eagle on October 29

This spring his campaign started in Melbourne but he returned home for a gallant second to Rocketing By in the Sydney Stakes (1200m) on Everest Day and Clark said that performance holds him in good stead for The Hunter.

“He’s going really well, he was just beaten in that Sydney Stakes and it was a big effort in the Eagle,’’ he said.

“He feels terrific, his work has been really first class so I can’t fault him. He’s in really good shape and he deserves another win.

“There are a couple of speed horses drawn out, I’m sure they’ll be working forward. It’s going to be a race where there’s going to be pressure again but back to 1300m that evens it out a bit.

“He’s definitely a favourite of mine, it would be great to see him get another win on the board.”

While most expect In The Congo to lead from barrier two, and Clark is one of them, the jockey is adamant he doesn’t need to lead.

“I’ll just go out there and if he’s not leading it means the others are going too fast,’’ he said.

Bjorn Baker’s Overpass also comes through the Golden Eagle, he finished ninth and about a length behind In The Congo.

The four-year-old has contested the biggest races of the spring, starting with a second to Nature Strip in The Shorts before lining up in the TAB Everest and Golden Eagle.

“He’s got a wide gate but he’s back to handicap conditions and 1300m probably suits, maybe the 1500m last time was a step too far,’’ Baker said on Sky Sports Radio.

“His best form is over the shorter course but you only get one crack at the Golden Eagle for $10 million against his own age.”

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Newcastle meeting