Eamonn’s Memory has taken connections on an absolute ride over the past 11 months.
Prior to his victory at Wangaratta on December 9 of last year, the son of Per Incanto had won just three races from 36 starts after showing some promise early on in his career.
While that 1.75L victory in a 0-58 (1300m) was an exciting breakthrough at the time, not many would’ve expected the six-year-old gelding to go on the run of form he has gone on since.
Eamonn’s Memory has now chalked up another six wins from his next 24 starts, finishing in the money in 14 of those races.
He’s won the Griffith and Tumbarumba Cups in that time and most recently saluted in a high-quality benchmark 74 at Albury on Saturday.
“Over the past 12 months he’s barely gone unplaced,” Dale said.
“He’s won the Tumbarumba Cup and Griffith Cup and has gone through his grades winning at (benchmark) 58, 64 and now 74 level.
“He was rated in the 50s not that long ago and now he’s in the mid-70s so it’s been a pretty incredible turnaround.”
Hoop Cory Parish has held the keys to the ever-trying galloper, piloting him in three of his seven victories, while Brittany Button, Billy Owen and Brad Vale have all had their turn.
“A lot of the credit has to go to Cory Parish,” Dale said.
“Cory’s really been able to get him to relax this year and he’s responded to Cory’s English style where he has that long left-handed whipping style.
“And then you combine that with some better understanding on how to train him.”
Incredibly, Eamonn’s Memory hasn’t had a proper spell since April 2023 with four week freshen ups keeping him on his game.
“He’s just such a sound horse,” Dale said.
“He maintains his condition, holds his weight and is just a really sound horse – we don’t have to do a whole lot with him at the moment.
“He’s a horse that loves racing which makes it great fun for the connections.”
Despite a second-last placing at Wagga two starts ago, Dale expected his superstar to run well at Albury on Saturday.
“It was a bit wet at Wagga which didn’t suit him so getting him back on top of the ground we knew he’d be a chance at Albury,” he said.
“It was a fantastic ride from Brittany (Button) and it was great to win a race of such good quality – connections were stoked.
“Initially we had a few disappointed connections jump out because he wasn’t doing too well early on which was fair enough but the ones who stayed loyal to him are having a lot of fun now.”
PHOTO: Eamonn’s Memory and jockey Cory Parish have built a strong connection.
