Behind only The Everest, the Golden Eagle is the second-richest race in the country, with a purse of $10 million.
Therefore, it’s no surprise to once again see a near capacity field of 16 horses set to face the starter at 4:45pm AEDT Saturday afternoon (Race 8).
MELBOURNE CUP ORDER OF ENTRY:
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This year though, there’s a twist. For the first time since the race’s inception in the Golden Eagle will take place at Randwick racecourse in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.
The race will be run over 1500m and it’s age-restricted to four-year-olds only, meaning horses can only contest the race once in their career.
Racing NSW administrators created the Golden Eagle to add some much-needed punch to their spring schedule. It’s certainly done that, with the race increasing in popularity year on year.
Held on the same day as Melbourne’s famed Derby Day, the addition of the Golden Eagle has turned an already mouth-watering day of racing that much better.
WHEN IS IT?
Saturday, November 1
.
WHERE IS IT?
Randwick Racecourse
WHERE TO WATCH
All the action from Royal Randwick will be live on Channel 7 and Sky Racing.
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
$10 million prize pool
1st – $5,250,000
2md – $2,000,000
3rd – $1,000,000
4th – $500,000
5th – $250,000
6th – $175,000
7th – $120,000
8th – $120,000
9th – $100,000
10th – $75,000
UNDERCARD
Other feature races on the program include The Russell Balding Stakes over 1300m worth $3 million, the $500,000 Four Pillars and the Group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup ($750,000).
Autumn Glow receives comparisons to Winx | 01:08
GOLDEN EAGLE FIELD (all odds via Sportsbet)
1. Evaporate (Ben, Will, JD Hayes – Nash Rawiller)
Barrier: 7
Odds: $9.50/$2.38
Don’t think he’s ever run poorly which is reflected in his record having won or finished top three in 12 of 17 starts. Just had too much to do in the Group 1 Toorak Hcp last start and with even luck, probably wins that race. Others have more upside than he does but he’s so honest and he does have a recent 1500m win on the board.
Verdict – Each way hope.
2. Feroce (Dom Sutton – Josh Parr)
Barrier: 10
Odds: $51/$9
Part owned by Collingwood head coach Craig McRae, this gelding won the Australian Guineas in the autumn, so he has runs on the board over this distance range. His form in a couple of open age Group 1’s this prep has been solid but this is a tougher test.
Verdict – Others preferred.
3. Linebacker (John O’Shea and Tom Charlton – Zac Lloyd)
Barrier: 5
Odds: $6/$1.80
He’s a ripper. Lined up in the most anticipated trial of all time three weeks and won, with subsequent Everest winner and sprinting superstar Ka Ying Rising finishing 2nd. He backed up that lovely piece of work by easily winning the Silver Eagle, which is a key lead up race for this. He’s a Group 1 winner over the mile so the rise from 1300m to 1500m is going to suit him nicely.
Verdict – Leading chance, top pick.
4. Sepals (Cliff Brown – Ethan Brown)
Barrier: 6
Odds: $20/$3.75
Extremely talented and lightly raced horse who has won five from eight starts, including the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes earlier in the spring. Two of his defeats have come in other Group 1 races, including the Toorak on October 11 but that run was a complete forgive as plenty went wrong and he sustained a minor injury during the race. If right, he can bounce back hard as he’s good enough to win this.
Verdict – Leading chance.
5. Willydoit (Ciaron Maher – Tim Clark)
Barrier: 11
Odds: $21/$4
His two runs this preparation have been pleasing, but he’s a horse who does his best work over much further than 1500m. He’s a Group 1 winner in NZ over 2400m.
Verdict – Others preferred.
6. Fully Lit (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott – Regan Bayliss)
Barrier: 14
Odds: $35/$6.50
Beat all bar Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap here a month ago in what was a gutsy performance from out in front. While a 2nd to Autumn Glow reads well on a CV, he was carrying 4.5kg less than that mare in the Epsom. He’ll now carry 2.5kg more in this, resulting in a 6.5kg weight turnaround.
Verdict – Place hope.
7. Depth of Character (Annabel and Rob Archibald – Jason Collett)
Barrier: 2
Odds: $91/$14
Not much luck in the Silver Eagle so he should’ve finished closer there. I just don’t think he’s going well enough to win a race like this.
Verdict – Others preferred.
8. Lord Penman (Chris Waller – Joao Moreira)
Barrier: 16
Odds: $67/$11
Sneaky place chance at huge odds and is one for trifectas and first fours. He wasn’t in Linebacker’s league last start but there was plenty to like about the way he hit the line in the Silver Eagle. 1500m will suit him ideally.
Verdict – Place hope.
9. Mayfair (Bjorn Baker – Dylan Gibbons)
Barrier: 15
Odds: $81/$13
Brave effort when 3rd in the Silver Eagle. He has some decent form in a couple of strong races as a three-year-old, but he’ll need to improve sharply to be a place chance in this. Hasn’t won for 470 days.
Verdict – Others preferred.
10. Shangri La Spring (Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott – Tyler Schiller)
Barrier: 17
Odds: $91/$15
Ticking over nicely this preparation and is suited stepping out to 1500m, but he’ll have to jump from the carpark and because he likes to press forward, he could be stuck out on a limb.
Verdict – Place hope.
11. Cristal Clear (Annabel and Rob Archibald – Braith Nock)
Barrier: 13
Odds: $151/$22
In form and rock hard fit gelding who has progressed nicely through the grades this preparation but I think he lacks the class necessary to win this.
Verdict – Others preferred.
12. Panja Tower (S. Hashiguchi – Kohei Matsuyama)
Barrier: 4
Odds: $7/$1.95
Attempting to become the second Japanese-trained horse to win this race after Obamburumai saluted in 2023. Supremely talented four-year-old who scorched the turf when winning the Group 1 NHK Mile in Tokyo at his fifth start. He stopped the clock in a blistering time that day. For what it’s worth, Obamburumai ran 3rd in the NHK Mile before coming to Sydney to take out this race months later.
Verdict – Leading chance.
13. Seagulls Eleven (Hugo Palmer – Tom Marquand)
Barrier: 3
Odds: $26/$4.50
Well-named UK gelding as it is part owned by several soccer stars from EPL side Brighton and Hove Albion, who are nicknamed the Seagulls. Has spent the majority of his career racing in top level races for mixed results. May need to find a few lengths to be winning this.
Verdict – Others preferred.
14. Autumn Glow (Chris Waller – James McDonald)
Barrier: 9
Odds: $2/$1.20
Unbeaten star of the Australian turf. She’s won all seven of her races but this will be her toughest test to date. Her trainer Chris Waller, who trained Winx, has heard the comparisons to his former mighty mare and while he stopped short of comparing the two, he did say Autumn Glow “is something different”. “She moves like a panther, she just glides across the ground,” Waller said this week. The mare has won all three starts at Randwick and took out one of Sydney’s most famous races last start – The Epsom Handicap.
Verdict – Leading chance
15. Perfumist (Bjorn Baker – Rachel King)
Barrier: 1
Odds: $16/$3.50
Brings interesting formlines into this having lowered the colours of the smart Idle Flyer two starts ago with that horse then turning the tables in a Group 3 last time out. Idle Flyer is considered a strong winning chance in a Group 1 at Flemington on Derby Day. Personally, I think she’s in the tier below the main chances.
Verdict – Place hope.
16. Modella (Lee and Cherie Curtis – Chad Schofield)
Barrier: 12
Odds: $151/$21
Her win at Rosehill last start was impressive to the eye but this is a much stiffer test. Nice horse who has some good races in her future, but against the best four-year-olds in the country, she looks to be outclassed.
Verdict – Others preferred.
TIPS
1st – 3. Linebacker
2nd – 14. Autumn Glow
3rd – 12. Panja Tower
4th – 4. Sepals
5th – 8. Lord Penman
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