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By Ray Hickson

Trainer John Thompson is certain lightly raced galloper Crafty Eagle has the potential to reach a much higher level than Saturday’s ABAX Contracting Handicap (1400m) at Kembla Grange but is in no hurry to throw the horse in the deep end.

Trainer John Thompson (Pic: Steve Hart)

While Thompson has been left without a runner in the feature $1m Illawarra Mercury Gong after Jojo Was A Man sustained a minor injury and had to be spelled, he’s excited about Crafty Eagle’s return.

Crafty Eagle was tested out at Group 3 level in the Winx Guineas back on July 1 and resumes after running second in the Grafton Guineas 11 days later.

“He’s a quirky horse but he’s going better than ever,’’ Thompson said.

“His trip away to Queensland and Grafton has done him a world of good. At home he’s fantastic.

“We’ll take him through his grades but he does have a little bit of X-Factor, he’s got good potential that’s for sure.”

The four-year-old has an imposing fresh record, having won his last two first-up attempts, and Thompson said kicking off at 1400m is the right move after considering his trial performances.

“In his first trial he was really good with Tyler (Schiller), in his second trial he was throwing his head around a little bit,’’ he said.

“Up a little in grade, watching him trial, especially his second trial at Hawkesbury, I thought they might be too sharp for him at 1200m.”

Schiller rides Crafty Eagle, who opened $4 with TAB on Wednesday, at Kembla Grange and Thompson is a little bit bullish about his chances after securing a plum barrier near the fence.

When he kicked off his last preparation with a dashing Midway win at 1200m, he had to work forward from a wide gate to find a spot just off the speed but that won’t be the case this time.

“He’s got a good draw which is the key, he should be able to pop out and put himself on speed,’’ he said.

“From a good draw you don’t have to manoeuvre him, you just come out positive and let him cruise along and he’ll be sweet.”

Thompson also has an air of confidence around the chances of With Your Blessing third-up into the Evergreen Turf Australia Handicap (1200m).

Though a shade let down by the gelding’s third placing behind Gustosisimo at Rosehill two weeks ago, the Randwick trainer says he may have read the horse slightly wrong and on the advice of jockey Josh Parr will fit blinkers for Saturday.

“He was good in his first couple of runs, I think he’s needed them,’’ he said.

Crafty Eagle runs second in a Hawkesbury trial on November 13

“He should have run second, that’s what disappointed me the other day, he just got tired that last 20m and Nash ran him down for second.

“But then it surprised me when he came back in how much he was blowing, I thought he was fitter than what he was.

“I think the blinkers will help because he’s a bit of a ‘lookie’ sort of horse. I think we’ve got him right this time.”

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