Free Eagle, a lightly raced Irish bred colt, scored a narrow win, and his first Group 1 success, in the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Royal Ascot.

It was a win that his trainer, Dermot Weld, would prefer not to be repeated, as the winning margin was so slender, the result not was much more that a lip at best.

The colt by the dual Derby success, High Chaparral, could easily be an inclusion on the wish list for the Melbourne Cup.

Free Eagle, the favourite, took up a good position in the early running, where Gailo Chop, raced by Melbournians, Simon O’Donnell and Terry Henderson, was giving a lot of cheek at the head of affairs.

Criterion was being ridden the prefect race by Chad Schofield, just off the pace, back on the fence with room at his disposal.

When the pace quickened Schofield drove Criterion forward, he was about on terms with the leaders and looking pretty good, he gave with all he had, it proved a short lived affair, he soon wilted on the vine, finishing out of a place.

Free Eagle deserved his win, he was there all the way of the 2000 metres trip, another stride and the purse would have slipped away, The Grey Gatsby was running on at the rate of knots.