The spring’s Coolmore Stud Stakes 2017 could be on the cards for Mick Price’s progressive young sprinter Lone Eagle who is out in the paddock enjoying a short break.

Lone Eagle could target Flemington’s 2017 Coolmore Stud Stakes during the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

The rising three-year-old is a well-bred Zoffany colt, purchased as a yearling from the 2016 Magic Millions Sale for $300,000.

During his juvenile campaign Lone Eagle had three starts breaking his maiden status last time out with a long-neck win over Evil Cry in a two-years-old handicap over 1200m at Caulfield on July 1.

The form out of that race was franked last Saturday at Flemington on Finals Day, with the Robbie Laing-trained runner-up Evil Cry finishing in the money again when third behind 2017 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas favourite Royal Symphony in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m).

Price though doesn’t plan to step Lone Eagle up over a mile when the colt returns for his Melbourne Spring Racing Carnival campaign, instead targeting the three-year-old sprint races.

Lone Eagle could return as soon as August 19 in the $150,000 Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at his home Caulfield track.

“He’s gone to the paddock for a short break and then we’ll bring him back and he might run in the Vain [Stakes] at Caulfield in August,” Price told Racing Victoria on Monday.

The long-term plan, should the up-and-comer show he was up to the grade, would be a Melbourne Cup Carnival run on Victoria Derby Day down the Flemington straight in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m).

“We’ll keep him to the shorter distances and see how he goes,” Price said.

“It would be nice to think he can run in the Danehill and then measure up to a race like the Coolmore if he’s good enough but he’s still got to prove he’s up to that level.”

The Group 2 Danehill Stakes (1200m) runs over the Coolmore Stud Stakes track and distance on September 16.

Price prepared Flying Artie (2016) for his Coolmore Stud Stakes win last spring, which followed on from a lead-up win in the lucrative Group 3 Sapphire Stakes (1200m).

Early pre-nomination Coolmore Stud Stakes odds at bookmakers around the country have Toby Edmonds’ Magic Millions 2YO Classic winning filly Houtzen as the all-in favourite followed by Golden Slipper champion She Will Reign and Lindsay Park’s Blue Diamond winner Catchy.

Pariah is the best fancied of the colts and geldings to upstage the current gun crop of fillies, the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Redoute’s Choice colt having run second in the Blue Diamond Stakes before failing to finish within 17 lengths of She Will Reign in the Slipper.

Just two fillies have beaten home the boys in the past 10 years of Coolmore Stud Stakes results, with Nechita (2012) the most recent.

To get behind the season’s best young sprinters at the right odds over the coming months head to our preferred sportsbook Ladbrokes.com.au.