The son of Starcraft, resumed that campaign with a win over 1200m in a Midway at Randwick and two starts later, tackled the Group 3 Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast where he had a wide run throughout before finishing a length and three-quarters behind Knight’s Choice in fourth place.

Crafty Eagle then went to the Grafton Guineas where he finished runner-up behind Bettcha The Crown.

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He begins his latest preparation in the Buy An Arrowfield Graduate Benchmark 72 Handicap (1200m).

“He is a very progressive horse going through his grades,” said Thompson.

“He goes super when he is fresh and I couldn’t be happier with how he is coming along.

“It’s a nice race for him to kick off in.

“In a perfect world. You would like a 1300 metre or 1400 metre race. Over the 1200m metres, there might be something in there that’s a bit sharp for him but he is the type of horse now who can go forward and make his own luck.

“He’s got a bit of class about him and that will take him a long way.”

Thompson’s immediate goals are just two get a couple of wins on the board before setting out the rest of this season’s program for Crafty Eagle.

“The plan would be to win a couple of Benchmark races now then we will see where we go after that,” he said.

“All I want at the moment is to just take him through the grades. I’m sure he will end up in a nice race at some stage, it’s just a matter of when.

“Whether that could be in the autumn or in Queensland during the winter, it all hinges on how he goes in his next couple of runs.”

In the opening event, the Earthlight First Yearlings Benchmark 72 Handicap (2400m), Thompson saddles up Auspicious Cloud and Deniliquin and feel both will bounce back from luckless last start runs.

“It’s a shame to have to run them against each other but it’s just a great race for both of them,” he said.

Auspicious Cloud went back to last in what turned out to be a slowly run affair when sixth of seven behind Father’s Day at Warwick Farm two weeks ago.

With that 2400m run under her belt and a better draw this week, Thompson expects her to settle closer which will increase her chances.

“At Warwick Farm last start, she just got back in a leader dominated race.

“From a better draw this week, she will be ridden a bit more positive. She’s got Nash Rawiller on and after that rain on the weekend, she track will have a bit of cushion which will suit her.

“She is a progressive stayer and her wet form is really good.

“She won well at Kembla last preparation and beat at horse called Zegalo who won the Country Classic at Rosehill on Saturday.”

Deniliquin missed the start by a couple of lengths over an unsuitably short 1500m when well back behind Sweet Mercy at Rosehill first-up then things didn’t go right for him at Canterbury over 1900m last start.

“Deniliquin didn’t have much luck at Canterbury the other day,” Thompson said.

“He will appreciate getting back to Warwick Farm and stepping up to 2400 metres.

“He is just an out and out stayer and I expect he will run an improved race this week.”

RYAN’S TRUTH IS READY TO BE REVEALED

My Truth looks like he is going to be a real bargain buy for his new owners after his solid first-up run and that payday could come at Warwick Farm.

The lightly-raced four-year-old was picked up for just $17,000 by trainer Blake Ryan for himself and a group of owners from the Inglis Digital Sale in late July.

He produced a solid effort when beaten a length into fifth place behind Calmer Karmer over 1200m and will appreciate stepping up to 1400m in the Benchmark 72 Handicap.

“I was very pleased with his first run for us,” said Ryan.

“I kept him on the sharper side with just the one trial under his belt. Rather than having a second trial, I thought he was going well enough to go to the races and he ran well.

“He’s drawn nicely so I expect he will settle in the first three of four as is his pattern and he is going up to 1400 metres in not an overly big field.

“I think he can run well with improvement still to come, especially when he gets to a mile.”

If My Truth can claim the $28,400 first prize this week or win at his next start, Ryan has a plan in the back of his mind.

“If he wins one of his next two starts, I might run him in a Country Cup; something like the Moruya Cup or Ballina Cup,” he said.

“He does go exceptionally well on wet tracks. He is three starts on the heavy for two wins.”

A race earlier on Wednesday, Ryan saddles up Ausbred Mimosa who is resuming from a spell in the Maiden Handicap over 1100m.

The daughter of Deep Field ran nice races at her three starts in her first campaign and has come back a stronger this time in.

“I was originally thinking of the 1100 metre Maiden at Hawkesbury on Sunday but the way she trialled, or more importantly, the way she came through it, I decided to have a throw at the stumps here,” he said.

“She’s got a good, sharp turn of foot for a furlong. I think the way Jay (Ford) rode her in the trials is the best way to ride her. Expose her late and she can really dash quickly.

“She’s a bit like My Truth. I expect her to run well but with improvement to come.”

Originally published as Warwick Farm preview: John Thompson has high hopes for the progressive Crafty Eagle