Way back in 2019, for three years is a long time in Sydney racing, administrators had an idea to put on another new horse race, worth $7.5 million.
Aside from the money it had a few distinguishing features. While the sport’s age-restricted races had always been for ages two and three, this one would be for four-year-olds, based on the widely-held view this is the year thoroughbreds peak.
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Like other big races at Rosehill, it’d be over 1500 metres – the track’s dimensions making it unfeasible to have contests over the more classic mile, or 1600m, journey – and, like several other new races in Sydney, it’d have the requisite odd, or non-racing-sounding, name.
The Golden Eagle mightn’t have anything to do with birds of prey, doesn’t have a long history, and may be another weapon in Sydney’s money-addled bid to trump Melbourne, but it has quickly grown in importance to be one of the most keenly sought races in the nation.
It’s now worth $10 million, making it Australia’s second-richest race after Sydney’s $15m Everest, and though its special conditions mean it can’t have Group status – the internationally-recognised top three tiers of races – Sydney administrators and connections reaping its prizemoney, whilst respecting the traditions of this beautiful sport, don’t give a toss.
It’s on again this Saturday, it’s attracted a tremendous field commensurate with its purse, and highlights a Rosehill meeting which also features a $3 million sprint.
With a stack of decent chances in an extremely open field of 20 runners, the Golden Eagle shapes as hugely engrossing viewing. If they’re trying to draw attention away from Flemington’s time-honoured Derby Day – which, by the way, is exactly that they’re doing – this edition of the race could go a long way towards achieving it. Let’s take a look…
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WHAT IS IT?
The Golden Eagle, a 1500m race for four-year-olds run at set weights. Males carry 57.5kg, mares 55.5kg. (Northern Hemisphere-born males, of which there are two this year, carry 56.5, for while officially classed as four-year-olds down here, they’re actually six months younger, biologically).
It begins at the start of Rosehill’s back straight, providing a long run of some 400m before the first bend. That gives jockeys a lot of time to find a spot close to the rail, but in a huge 20-horse field like this, some will have to take their medicine and sit wide so as not to be too far from the lead, or else drop back, way back, giving the leaders a huge start. Last year, in an 18-horse field, seven jockeys were content to sit three and four wide, but the first four home were either on the fence throughout or one horse off it, and they jumped from barriers 3, 4, 5 and 8. In fact, across the three runnings so far, the average barrier for the first four runners home has been 6.
So, in a field this size, inside barriers are an advantage, particularly if it’s fine weather and the track isn’t a bog. If it’s heavy, as Sydney has been a lot lately, the inside can become cut up and the wrong place to be. At this stage though, it’s supposed to be mostly fine and sunny up till at least Saturday.
From that first bend the field turns down the side of the course before rounding the last corner for a long 420-metre home straight. So hopefully, if you’re close to the fence but behind horses around the turn, the gaps should open up in the straight, particularly since the leaders are likely to set a keen pace, meaning they should tire and wobble about in the straight.
The three winners for far have been more or less midfield in the run. So it’s probably inadvisable to be too far back or leading.
WHAT’S IT WORTH?
In your best Dr Evil/Peter V’Landys accent: Ten million dollars! (Bwahaha!)
Winner jags $5.25 mill, there’s a million up for just coming third, and, in keeping with the times, every four-year-old wins a prize, with 17th to 20th “earning” ten grand each. In a nice touch, 10 percent of all prizemoney allocated goes to charities nominated by horses’ connections (proper, accredited charities, not like “Bill’s Barbeque Foundation” and stuff).
WHEN’S IT ON?
Saturday, 4.45pm. Race 8.
FIRST WINNER: Kolding (a gelding, at $6, from barrier 4, in 2019)
SECOND WINNER: Colette (a mare, at $10, barrier 6)
LAST WINNER: I’m Thunderstruck (a gelding, at $3.50, barrier 8)
WHERE CAN YOU WATCH IT?
At the course in Sydney’s west, on Channel 7, Sky Racing. You can listen on radio or follow the news on foxsports.com.au.
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MAIN PLOTLINES:
From the backblocks of Wyandra, western Queensland, the colourful Peter Moody rose to become one of the most successful trainers in this country’s long and proud tradition of them. He won four Melbourne premierships, in a reign highlighted by his training of that most magnificent mare, Black Caviar, the sprinter unbeaten in 25 starts.
Moody’s world soon came crashing down though, in 2016, when given a highly contentious six-month ban after one of his horses tested positive to cobalt, a substance found in pretty much everything and not proven to make horses go any faster. Indeed the Melbourne stewards’ zeal over the issue was later widely discredited when a couple of other trainers hit with bans on the same charge won appeals in court.
Moody told them to stick it, took a couple of years off, but has returned with a smaller but very powerful stable. And he saddles two well-fancied runners to come away with Australia’s second-richest race in the gelding I Wish I Win ($7), and the mare Chain Of Lightning ($9).
I Wish I Win has had a remarkable career. His New Zealand breeder Mark Chittick couldn’t sell him because he was born with a foreleg jutting out on a weird angle. That hasn’t affected his racing ability, however. With a good bit of bone having grown around the problem knee to strengthen him up, after two wins in New Zealand he joined Moody for another couple of superb victories up in class in Melbourne.
He then ran only fifth as a raging favourite in the G1 Toorak Handicap. But he wasn’t seen at his best – drawing wide and having to go back on a day heavily favouring front-runners – and he has his chance to atone this week. Chittick isn’t one of the little guys – his Waikato Stud farm is one of the biggies. But with Moody having bought just a small share in the horse in his transfer across the Tasman, Chittick, the bloke with the horse noone wanted, will rake in the lion’s share of the $5.25 million by himself if I Wish I Win fulfils his wish and wins. Completing the “Old Firm” storyline, the gelding will be ridden on Saturday by long-term Moody rider – and Black Caviar’s regular jockey – Luke Nolen, who’ll pocket a cool $260,000 if he wins.
Moody’s other runner, Chain Of Lightning, will be ridden by Australia’s most successful female jockey in history, Jamie Kah, and has followed a strange path to the top. Bred by a NSW bush character and old mate of Moody’s in Stuart Ramsey, she won her first two starts – at Inverell and Armidale – before being transferred to Moody in Melbourne, where she’s won four of five at Caulfield and Flemington.
Creating much intrigue is the favourite Light Infantry ($4.50), a French stallion imported with this race in mind by the powerful Victorian stable of Ciaron Maher and Dave Eustace. He’s only had five starts, won his first two in England, and was second in French G1s at his past two runs, the latest in August behind the outstanding filly Inspiral, who’s won six of eight including three G1s. It’s usually hard for Europeans to come here and slot straight in, however, so he’ll have to be just as good as Maher-Eustace clearly think he is.
There’s another European having his first run here in Chris Waller’s Welwal ($15), three other well-performed Australian mares in Hinged ($11), Fangirl ($15) and Gypsy Goddess ($17), and the winner of one of the main lead-ups to this, the Silver Eagle, in Vilana ($11), who’s trained by James Cummings, who’s having such success this spring you could borrow that old saying about in-form jockeys and say “He could train a broomstick to win, this bloke.”
OTHER MAJOR RACES ON THE DAY
NATURE STRIP STAKES, Race 7, 4.00pm, (1300m): A set weights sprint named after the previous year’s Everest winner, which serves as a consolation prize – worth only a piddling $3 million – two weeks after the big one. Market headed by Lost And Running ($2.80), who had to be scratched from The Everest so has a chance to make amends here; Private Eye and Mazu (both around $4.50) who ran second and third in The Everest, and Everest duds Eduardo ($8) and Masked Crusader ($9).
ROSEHILL GOLD CUP, Race 6, 3.20pm (2000m): A $750,000 handicap for three-year-olds and up who like a bit of distance. The two big trainers go head-to-head with the two $4.50 co-favourites: James Cummings saddling Honeycreeper, a four-year-old mare building form, and Chris Waller starting Quality Time, an imported German gelding seeking four wins in a row.
THE FOUR PILLARS, Race 9 (1500m): Another race with a daft name, but, showing what’s been happening with Sydney racing of late, it’s worth $500,000 and it’s for horses with a benchmark rating of 68. For context, the favourite Kayobi won a Benchmark 64 last start at Kembla Grange, Wollongong, and earned $19,700. If he wins this he claims $287,000.
THE GOLDEN EAGLE FIELD
* NOTE: The four emergencies have drawn gates 5, 18, 12, and 1. If they don’t gain a run, every horse moves in – where they can; i.e.. a horse drawn gate 19 would jump from 15; a horse in gate 4 would only move in to gate 3.
1. OVERPASS (Starting gate: 3) Pointsbet Approx odds win/place $34/$8. FOR: Comes in with the highest benchmark rating (their internationally-recognised figure based on previous performances) at 109. Over-achieved in The Everest last start running sixth, beaten less than three lengths, at big odds. Handy trainer in Bjorn Baker. Likes soft going, if it’s soft. Good, inside barrier. AGAINST: Just doesn’t seem as classy as some rivals here, but the big drawback is the distance. His longest efforts have been a fourth
and a seventh over 1400m. Poor in heavy going (if it’s heavy). Needs luck. Wet form: Soft: 5:3-1-0; Heavy: 4:0-0-0.
2. CONVERGE (16) $34/$8. FOR: Top stable in Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott. Only missed a placing in one of four runs at the track. Showed great ability in his 3YO season, even beating Anamoe – now the nation’s finest horse – into second in the G1 Randwick Guineas in March. Beautifully bred, with his father being British champion Frankel, possibly the greatest horse of all time. AGAINST: Appears to have shown his best form at three years. At four, he’s run second-last, last and 12th of 15. Hard to have on that. Barrier not great, but if he comes in to 13 with emergency scratchings it’s not too bad. Prefer others. Soft: 4:0-0-2; Heavy: 4:1-1-0.
3. IN THE CONGO (4) $13/$4. FOR: Strong stable in Waterhouse-Bott. Has a win and a third from two starts this track, including his biggest win, in the G1 Golden Rose (1400m) last year, beating Anamoe no less. Good second last start over 1200m at Randwick showed he still had it. Good barrier and jockey in Tim Clark. AGAINST: As a 4YO he’s had two starts for a sixth of seven and that last start second. Hasn’t raced beyond that 1400m win so distance a slight doubt. Place. Soft: 5:2-2-0; Heavy: 3:0-1-1.
4. VILANA (24) $12/$4. FOR: From the super-charged Godolphin stable and James Cummings, who are having a huge spring and will have circled this as his big target. Is by the same sire who fathered 2020 winner Colette, in Hallowed Crown. Good jockey in Nash Rawiller. AGAINST: Slight worry that his longest race has been 1400m, where he just won by half a length as a 3YO, but he’ll be a stronger 4YO now, and Cummings knows what he’s doing, so that shouldn’t be an issue. Good win by almost two lengths in the main lead-up to this on Oct 15, the Silver Eagle (1300m). Worst barrier of the lot, makes him an each-way chance at best. Soft: 3:2-1-0; Heavy: 3:2-0-0.
5. I WISH I WIN (14) $7/$2. FOR: Heaps. Very talented horse with a master trainer in Peter Moody and a super jockey in Luke Nolen. Has become one of the most exciting gallopers in the land after crossing the Tasman for two paralysing wins in Melbourne. Has placed at 1600m in top level in NZ so distance no worry. Has performed in all going. Barrier is fine, especially if it becomes 11 through losing the emergencies. AGAINST: Not a huge amount Was born with a wonky leg perhaps? Though that’s not been an impediment to him lately. Very strong chance. Soft: 3:1-1-0; Heavy: 2:0-2-0.
6. MR MOZART (23) $13/$4. FOR: Horse with a load of ability, having won three in a row, and at Group level, in the autumn, two at this distance. Fine rider in Brenton Avdulla, and strong stable in Team Hawkes. Tuned up with good second in Silver Eagle (1300m), holding on after leading. That was second-up from a spell so will be fitter here. Handles all going. AGAINST: That rotten barrier way out wide. Avdulla will have work cut out, esepcially since this horse likes to lead. Might push up and sit wide, but will be
lucky to find cover (a horse in front of him to face the breeze). Each-way. Soft: 2:1-1-0; Heavy: 2:2-0-0.
7. HILAL (17) $71/$18. FOR: Also from the strong Team Hawkes stable, and very well bred, being by the super sire Fastnet Rock. Almost beat Anamoe over 1400m at this track back in February. Won the $1m Bondi Stakes over 1600m last spring, so distance no worry. Failed last two starts in Melbourne but before that was a decent fourth to Anamoe in a 1400m G1 at Randwick. AGAINST: His last two starts are the worry – 12th and 13th over 1400m and 1600m in Melbourne. They were are Caulfield, though, and many Sydney horses don’t take to that track. Go on that fourth to Anamoe three runs back, and he’s back to his favoured way of going here. Gate not good. Rough place chance at big odds. Soft: 8:1-3-0; Heavy: 3:0-0-1.
8. MILITARY EXPERT (19) $71/$18. FOR: Handy trainer in Annabel Neasham, won at his last start here, in February, and has won up to 1600m so distance no worry. Good run two starts back when second in G1 Toorak Hcp (1600m) at Caulfield. AGAINST: Benefited from a light 52kg handicap in the Toorak, and dudded last Saturday when 7th of 8 over 1600m under 58.5kg at Moonee Valley, and has to carry 57.5 here. That Valley run was on a heavy track, which he doesn’t like, however. Won’t want much rain this week but better suited here. Wide gate against him though. Place chance. Soft: 6:2-2-1; Heavy: 3:0-0-0.
9. LIGHTSABER (15) $101/$25. FOR: Top trainer in Peter Moody. Nicely bred and showed good ability at two and three. AGAINST: Hasn’t come on as a 4YO very well, with runs of 9th, 8th, 12th and 6th of 7. Barrier not great. Not for us. Soft: 5:0-1-0; Heavy: 0:0-0-0.
10. PINSTRIPED (22) $26/$7. FOR: Lightly-raced Melbourne 3YO with just eight starts (three wins), and that can be a big advantage. Was a crack 3YO, winning his first three starts before a horrendously unlucky 5th in the G1 Australian Guineas (1600m) which he should just about have won. Hasn’t won in three starts as a 4YO but has run well, with a 2nd, 3rd and 6th in good class, the latest making ground from last on the turn in the Toorak (1600m). Winkers go on to get his mind more on the job. AGAINST: Hasn’t gone the Sydney way of going yet, and it’s usually harder for Melbourne horses to adjust up here than vice-versa. (Fun fact: Most horses, reckoned at between 60 and 75 percent of them, are “left handed”, preferring to do their work off their left foreleg, which suits “gripping” the corners going anti-clockwise in Melbourne, as opposed to clockwise in Sydney). Plus, some horses don’t like Rosehill too much; it has long straights but a pretty tight home turn, which some have to claw their way around, then balance up, and get down to work, often while the leaders have skipped clear. He hasn’t got a noted big race jockey aboard (Sam Clipperton), and has drawn poorly in gate 22. But this is a horse with great ability. Each-way. Soft: 4:1-1-0, Heavy: 1:1-0-0.
11. BRIGANTINE – SCRATCHED
12. LIGHT INFANTRY (8) $4.50/$2. FOR: Comes here from Europe with big wraps and a 105 rating – equal fourth-highest in the race. Last start in August was a close second in a 1600m G1 in France, to a potential champion in Inspiral. Lightly-raced with two wins and two seconds from his five starts. Great starting gate. AGAINST: European imports can often take a while to acclimatise down here, so you take a leap of faith backing them first start in Australia. He’s also to be ridden by Irish jockey Jamie Spencer. He’s great back home, but will be know his way around Rosehill as well as some others here? Horse obviously has ability, but seems short odds given the doubts. Each-way. Soft: 3:1-2-0; Heavy: 0:0-0-0.
13. WELWAL (9) $15/4. FOR: Spied by the canny Chris Waller to be Brough here from Europe for this, with three wins and two seconds from seven starts, including a 1600m G3 win in France. Has a great gate and has world famous jockey Frankie Dettori on board. AGAINST: Has world famous jockey Frankie Dettori on board. While he’s great back home in Britain, his many trips to Australia, for the Melbourne Cup, have been marked by failure. Not sure he gets how we race down here. The horse also arrives with a relatively low rating of just 95. Last two starts came just 6th and 10th in French G1s, and this is a G1 type of field. Place best. Soft: 5:2-1-0; Heavy: 0:0-0-0.
14. HINGED (20) $11/$3. FOR: Very consistent mare who looks a better Waller runner than the import above. Won the G1 Surround Stakes (1400m) against her own sex at Randwick in February. Impressed this time in with thirds in G1s against all comers in her past two starts, over 1600m. She was up front both times so looks suited to 1500m this time. Good in all going. Top jockey in Kerrin McEvoy aboard. AGAINST: Rises in weight from 51.5kg last start to 55.5 here. That’s a fairly minor distraction back against her own age here though. Not so great is her wide barrier, however. Each-way chance. Soft: 6:2-2-1; Heavy: 5:2-0-2.
15. FANGIRL (21) $17/$4. FOR: The old Winx combo behind her in trainer Waller and jockey Hugh Bowman. Won a G1 last March over 1850m so distance no doubt. Gets all going. AGAINST: Last two runs have been moderate – a 5th of 9 over 1600m and a 6th of 10 over 1600m. The second one was on heavy going, however, which she doesn’t like. Was shaping as a decent each-way chance, given the likelihood os soft going, but her wide barrier has now thrown that in doubt. Place best. Soft: 5:2-1-0; Heavy: 4:0-0-0.
16. CHAIN OF LIGHTNING (2) $9/$2.50. FOR: Leading trainer in Peter Moody and top jockey in Jamie Kah. Has hit the highs with three wins in Melbourne after starting out in the NSW bush in winning her first two, which prove she handles both ways of going, and seems to be ok in good, soft or heavy. Drawn well in barrier 2. AGAINST: Not a huge amount, but hasn’t been proven at the distance, although she stepped up to 1400m last start and brained ‘em over 1400m at Caulfield in a G2, so extra 100m shouldn’t be a big worry. One query is that while gate 2 looks great, with $10m on offer there could be a lot of wider jockeys charge ahead of her, meaning Kah might need luck to find a way through in the straight. Still, a horse in form with a strong chance. Soft: 4:4-0-0; Heavy: 1:0-0-1.
17. GYPSY GODDESS (6) $17/$4. FOR: This is a very classy racehorse who was crowned Australia’s official top 3YO filly at the end of last season. Debut at three and won her first five races, from 1400m to 1600m, before two G1 placings and a G1 win earned her crown. Handles all going, is first-up from a spell and has won 2 from 2 that way. Has drawn inside. AGAINST: The slight worry is her top performances – those three G1 runs – were over 1850 to 2200m, so this could be a tad short perhaps, especially now she’s four. However, for horses who can get a longer trip, first-up over 1500m could be ideal, especially on soft going (old sage rule of thumb that one). Another slight worry is she has Willie Pike in the saddle, and while he was a wizard when back in home state WA, has had a moderate run in big races since moving to Sydney. She’ll also probably get back in the run, meaning Pike may need luck to find a way through in the straight. Still, class takes you far, and she’s a definite each-way chance in an open race. Soft: 2:1-0-1; Heavy: 2:0-2-0.
18. LADY OF HONOUR (13) $101/$25. FOR: Not all that much. She’s consistent – with four wins and four placings from nine starts – so you know she’s a trier. AGAINST: Her form comes from far weaker races than this. Not for us. At last, here’s one we can definitely rule out (famous last words!) Soft: 5:2-1-2; Heavy: 0:0-0-0.
19. LAVISH GIRL (11) $101/$25. FOR: Top stable in Maher-Eustace. Has shown some form in the past including two starts back when second over 1200m at Caulfield, relegating Chain Of Lightning to third. AGAINST: Like the one above, starting this horse in this race is, in racing terms borrowed from cricket terms, having a shot at the stumps. She led and weakened into 7th last start over 200m shorter than this in the Silver Eagle. Did cross from a wide gate that day, but still, others make more appeal. Soft: 2:0-0-0;
Heavy: 1:0-1-0.
20. HOPE IN YOUR HEART (10) $34/$8. FOR: If you’re a Liverpool fan, you might like this, for her owners plucked her name from their favourite song – You’ll Never Walk Alone. Aside from that, she’s a talented mare, winning over 1400m and 1600m at G3 level last two starts. Good gate. AGAINST: Good efforts those last two wins, but she does face a steep class rise into this race. Still, handles all going and not the worst chance here. Place. Soft: 9:4-0-1; Heavy: 3:0-1-0.
EMERGENCIES
21. CARDINAL GEM (5) $34/$8. FOR: Astute Melbourne trainer in Grahame Begg, and a very consistent horse, with three wins and four placings from past eight starts. Latest won over 1400m at Caulfield; has run a close second over 1600m, so distance no worry, and a good Melbourne jockey in Jordan Childs, and handles all going. Good gate. AGAINST: Whilst consistent, faces a big class rise for this race. Also hasn’t raced the Sydney way. Rough place only. Soft: 7:2-2-1; Heavy: 1:1-0-0.
22. JIMMY THE BEAR (18) $101/$25. FOR: Fairly consistent, but in weaker grade. Has won over 1600 so will get the trip. AGAINST: Faces major class rise here, having finished third to Cardinal Gem last start in Listed class. Drawn wide. Not for us. Soft: 7:3-2-2; Heavy: 0:0-0-0.
23. FLYING CRAZY (12) $101/$25. FOR: Is four years old, so is allowed to enter this race. AGAINST: Name says it all, really. Ran 10th past two starts. Nup. Soft: 5:2-0-0; Heavy: 1:0-0-0.
24. KISS SUM (1) $51/$12. FOR: Fairly consistent gelding representing the battler’s vote in that he’s trained by Tracey Bartley, who has a small stable at Wyong. Not a bad run when fifth in the Silver Eagle last start, and won a 1600m G3 in Brisbane the start before, so distance OK. Good barrier. AGAINST: Others have stronger form, and the likelihood of a soft track isn’t his favourite. Rough place hope only. Soft: 5:0-1-0; Heavy: 2:0-2-0.
TIPS: 1. I WISH I WIN, 2. Gypsy Goddess, 3. Pinstriped, 4. Chain Of Lightning.
