Eagle Mountain: won the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in December 2008
PICTURE: Hong Kong Jockey ClubEagle Mountain returns at eight - in New Zealand
New Zealand: The much-travelled Eagle Mountain, placed in both the English and Irish Derbies for Aidan O'Brien in 2007, is set to resurrect his racing career at the age of eight - in New Zealand.
After being purchased by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa and sent to Mike de Kock, the son of Rock Of Gibraltar won the Hong Kong Cup at Sha Tin in December 2008, a month after finishing second to Conduit in the Breeders' Cup Turf.
Eagle Mountain was retored to stud in New Zealand but has been put back into training with Stephen McKee owing to fertility issues.
He is set to make his debut for his new trainer after a 2½-year absence in the Group 1 Haunui Farm Otaki-Maori WFA Classic over 1m, where he will be ridden by Leith Innes.
Eagle Mountain spent two years at stud at Brighthill Farm before his connections withdrew him from stud duty.
He had a trial at Ellerslie earlier this month ready for Saturday's race. "He's come through the trial really well and had a bit of a scream, which was understandable after being away from the races for so long," McKee said, speaking to theinformant.co.nz.
"He was such a good racehorse as a colt that I didn't want to geld him. There's a lack of races for him here and as long as he shows he's still got form we'll definitely look at Australia in the autumn."
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