The 2021 Golden Eagle barrier draw took place on Sydney Harbour this morning and the training duo of Mike Price and Michael Kent Jnr will be very happy with what transpired. I’m Thunderstruck, last start winner of the Toorak Handicap, has been the favourite for the race since that win and connections will be happy that the gelding has drawn barrier 10, and will likely jump from 8 when emergencies come out.
2. I’m Thunderstruck – Barrier 10#GoldenEagle @MickPriceRacing @OTIRacing pic.twitter.com/Y4ybK3N02H
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 26, 2021
Sportsbet are currently listing him as the $4.50 favourite following the draw. Given he likes building into his races and has an impressive turn of foot, to be able to have cover and not be forced wide throughout, like his luckless third in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, is a big bonus.
Especially when his two biggest competitors in Private Eye (barrier 17) and Maximal (22), at least according to Sportsbet’s market, have drawn wide. Private Eye, who is currently $6, is a last start winner of the Epsom Handicap, with Dalasan (3rd) and Mo’unga (5th), two horses he beat in that race, coming out and running 6th and 4th, respectively, in the Cox Plate last Saturday.
Maximal on the other hand is a three-quarter brother to legendary stallion Frankel and will make his first start for John O’Shea after coming over from the UK, specifically for this race. Currently a $9 chance, Maximal may have just one win from eight career starts but has five seconds and two starts ago finished fourth in the Group One St James’ Palace Stakes at Ascot in June.
“He’s settled in well at Randwick, he’s a really cool dude, he worked beautifully (this morning), whatever he does, he does it really easily, we couldn’t be happier”@JohnOSheaRacing on his imported runner MAXIMAL ahead of the Golden Eagle this week.#Bensley@AndrewBensley pic.twitter.com/p50j5Pjhad
— SENTrack (@SEN_track) October 25, 2021
There are two other international raiders contesting the $7.5M Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday, both from the Annabel Neasham camp. Laws Of Indices (19) is better fancied than Reve De Vol (7), being priced at $13 and $21 respectively, but the latter has drawn much more favourably, which could play a big part in this race. The other main local chances, that are currently under $20, have all drawn low barriers – Count De Rupee (4), Apache Chase (6) and Ellsberg (1).
Check back in over the next 24 hours to find our 2021 Golden Eagle runner-by-runner preview, along with The Shark’s Golden Eagle best tips.
