The fate of world’s most famous jockey Frankie Dettori making a first appearance in Sydney to headline Golden Eagle day could be decided by where the line is drawn for the final field of 18 runners for Saturday’s $10 million showcase.
Premier trainer Chris Waller has been looking since last week to book an international jockey for his stable’s new recruit Welwal, from the French-based Al Shaqab Racing, and Dettori became the frontrunner over the weekend.
A trip to Sydney for the world famous jockey Frankie Dettori depends on Welwal gets into the Golden Eagle field.Credit:Getty
However, the Shalaa entire, which has a record of three wins from seven starts in France, was struggling to get into the field on the 95 benchmark it was given by Racing NSW handicappers on Sunday.
Welwal was sent to Waller after being unplaced in the French 2000 Guineas and French Derby, and has been seen only in barrier trials since arriving in Australia, the latest a fifth at Rosehill on Friday.
It is clearly the best Golden Eagle field in the four-year history of the rich race for four-year-olds and there are a couple of trainers who are surprised to be sweating on getting a place in the field.
Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker has been through the pain of being on the borderline for big races before and it appears his mare Hope In Your Heart might be lucky number 18 for the Golden Eagle.
She has been in outstanding form this spring, putting together a hat-trick of wins, including group 3 victories in the Tibbie Plate and the Angst Stakes at her past two appearances in NSW.
“I’m used to it because I’m always trying to sneak my horses into these races, the easiest way possible,” Parker said. “She is a strong mare, so I had to get her out to the mile to give her the best chance to win the Golden Eagle, so I went for the Angst instead of the Silver Eagle.
“She is fantastic and ready to go, but we just have to wait and see where we sit at acceptance time. I know we are really close to being in, but there is nothing I can do about it now, other than hope.”
Welwal sits one place behind Hope In Your Heart, with Melbourne raider Cardinal Gem next in the order of entry.
Cranbourne trainer Grahame Begg sent the Choisir gelding to Sydney last week, confident Cardinal Gem would get into the Golden Eagle after winning his past two on soft tracks down south, including the Weekend Hussler Stakes on Caulfield Guineas day.
“He has settled in very well up there at Randwick, but we are worried we might not get a run,” Begg admitted. “We think he is right in the race and Jordan Childs is so confident he has taken the ride instead of being here for Derby day.
“Jordan is coming up there to give him a gallop on Tuesday and we are hoping it’s not for nothing.”
There are still a number of horses higher up on the order of entry to decide if they will run in the Golden Eagle, with Bjorn Baker facing a tough choice with his Everest runner Overpass.
After being runner-up in The Shorts, Overpass sits fifth on the Sydney Sprint series standings, which concludes with the Nature Strip Stakes on Saturday.
If he holds that place in the standings, Overpass would earn a $250,000 bonus, and winning the Nature Strip would see him win a $2.5 million bonus from the Sprint Series prize pool.
“We have been aiming him at the Golden Eagle, and he could run there and still pick something from the Sprint Series with a bit of luck,” Baker said.
“I think he will be a better chance over the 1500m against his own age in the Eagle because he will not be under as much pressure as against the older horses.”
