Run at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, the 1500m Golden Eagle is a special conditions race restricted to four year olds only, and is worth a staggering $10m in prize money.
Introduced in 2019 by Racing NSW, the set weights feature has become a landmark race on the Australian racing calendar and is the main target for top class four year olds all over Australia and abroad. Previous winners of the race include; Kolding (2019), Colette (2020) and I’m Thunderstruck (2021), who finished a gallant second in last weekend’s Cox Plate.
Looking at the market, Dabble has well performed import, Light Infantry, favourite for this year’s Golden Eagle at $3.10. Winning machine, Chain Of Lightning, has been well backed and is currently second favourite at $5.50 and then it’s out to double figures for In The Congo and I Wish I Win, both listed at $11.
However, we know anything can happen in this great game we call horse racing and there is no lack of quality in this race. So, we have dissected each of the horses’ chances for you and provided our horse racing tips! Read on below to find our runner by runner preview of the 2022 Golden Eagle along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Overpass (3) – $21
Jockey – Rachel King 57.5kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Chased home Nature Strip first up in The Shorts before close up efforts in the Premiere Stakes and The Everest last start. Will find this easier and gets in well under the set weights conditions but may struggle to run out a strong 1500m.
2. Converge (16) – $51
Jockey – Regan Bayliss 57.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Has failed to find anything near his best form in three runs to date this prep. Beat Anamoe at G1 level earlier this year, highlighting his talent when on song, but needs to find that form again before he can be included in the numbers in a race like this.
Rosehill Gardens is preparing to rock, both on the track and off it, this Saturday as a super bunch of 4yos tackle the $10m Golden Eagle while @Rudimental stars after the last race. In just 3 days!
TICKETS: https://t.co/u7GrICPjFX pic.twitter.com/lBMOMkHTfZ
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 25, 2022
3. In The Congo (4) – $11
Jockey – Tim Clark 57.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Did little first up before being freshened and finishing a gallant second in the Sydney Stakes last start. Another who has beaten Anamoe at G1 level at his best but is a query at the trip and goes straight from the 1200m into this.
4. Vilana (24) – $18
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 57.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Finished strong to record a dominant win first up in the Silver Eagle. The added journey will be no issue here and Nash sticks with him. The outside gate is no help but the stable is on fire of late and off the strength of his first up win has to be included.
5. I Wish I Win (14) – $11
Jockey – Luke Nolen 57.5kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Won the Testa Rossa at Sandown in fine style two starts ago off the back of a scintillating first up win. Was sent out a solid fav last start in the Toorak and although he didn’t get the chocolates, was far from disgraced. Will appreciate a solid tempo up front here and on recent form looks hard to beat.
6. Mr Mozart (23) – $20
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 57.5kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Found one better first up in the Theo Marks and again last start in the Silver Eagle. Will roll forward from the wide draw and try make his own luck on speed but happy to go around him here.
7. Hilal (17) – $81
Jockey – Jay Ford 57.5kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
No match last start in the Toorak after a poor performance in the Rupert Clarke the start prior. Racing below his best but is capable of bobbing up at a price if he turns up and puts his best foot forward.
8. Military Expert (19) – $71
Jockey – Tommy Berry 57.5kg
Trainer – Annabel Neasham
Team Tye celebrated a win in the XXXX Golden Eagle two years ago with Colette, in 2022 it’s Group 1 placed Military Expert who partners with the former jockey’s Foundation for the $10 million race on Saturday. pic.twitter.com/QQ1ivpigNO
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 27, 2022
On the seven day back up here after finishing down the track last Saturday at Moonee Valley. Form prior was very good and he will appreciate a dryer surface here. The big question is how much that run took out of him, and whether he can handle the travel and quick turn around.
9. Lightsaber (15) – $126
Jockey – Tom Sherry 57.5kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Hasn’t set the world on fire in four runs back this prep, the latest last Saturday at Moonee Valley. Wouldn’t be out of it on his best form but his recent runs suggest he’s not up to this.
10. Pinstriped (22) – $34
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 57.5kg
Trainer – Enver Jusufovic
Chased hard and found the line well all three runs this prep, including the Toorak last start where he finished sixth. Looks well suited here with good speed up front and gets a set of winkers on to sharpen him up. Looks huge overs despite the wide gate.
11. Brigantine (7) – SCRATCHED
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 57.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
SCRATCHED
12. Light Infantry (8) – $3.10F
Jockey – Jamie Spencer 56.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Former UK-trained galloper who brings some strong international form lines into this. He finished a close up second to Inspiral at G1 level last start which reads well for this and the Maher/Eustace stable have had a great deal of success with imports. Big watch here.
Golden Eagle favourite Light Infantry and Jamie Spencer prepare for a gallop at Canterbury ahead of Saturday’s $10m race at Rosehill. pic.twitter.com/gcW2DjuG7y
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 24, 2022
13. Welwal (9) – $20
Jockey – Frankie Dettori 56.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Another international who brings some intriguing form lines. Recent trials suggest he has settled in well and he gets the services of champion hoop, Frankie Dettori. Hard to line up his form but may pay to follow any positive market moves.
14. Hinged (20) – $13
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 55.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Continued her consistent form last start with a close up third in the Epsom. Finished on the heels of Anamoe the start prior. Ran third in the Coolmore this track/trip in the Autumn and it’s hard to see her not running in the money again here despite the wide draw.
15. Fangirl (21) – $19
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 55.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Ran super first up in the Winx Stakes behind Anamoe before a couple of fair efforts her past two on wet ground. Will more than likely go back from the gate and can improve sharply here, providing the track is in the good/soft range.
16. Chain Of Lightning (2) – $5.50
Jockey – Jamie Kah 55.5kg
Trainer – Peter G Moody
Blew her rivals away last start in the Tristarc at Caulfield. Has a brilliant record, with her only loss coming on a Heavy9 surface. Last run suggests the 1500m will suit and she looks one of the main hopes here.
17. Gypsy Goddess (6) – $16
Jockey – William Pike 55.5kg
Trainer – David Vandyke
Qld Oaks winner who resumes here. Has had two trials in preparation for this, the latest finding the line well under Pike. Unbeaten fresh and will be well suited with plenty of pressure up front. Can return with a bang here.
Embrace the best of spring at The Golden Eagle 🦅 this Saturday! Rosehill Gardens is the backdrop for the $10m feature. Wear a touch of gold, there’s fashion with a cultural twist plus @Rudimental after the last race. TICKETS: https://t.co/u7GrICPjFX @tabcomau @parracity pic.twitter.com/a57QywgpK4
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 24, 2022
18. Lady Of Honour (13) – $71
Jockey – Jake Noonan 55.5kg
Trainer – Ben & JD Hayes
Had a good run and fought on well last time out behind Aegon. Will race in the first few here and handles all conditions but may find the high pressure of this race against her.
19. Lavish Girl (11) – $126
Jockey – Keagan Latham 55.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Led them up before fading late to finish midfield in the Silver Eagle last start. Prior form quite good but will cop a lot of pressure up front here and might be found wanting late.
20. Hope In Your Heart (10) – $41
Jockey – Jason Collett 55.5kg
Trainer – Kerry Parker
Made it two G3 victories on the hop last start when she won the Angst at Randwick. Flying this prep and is one for one this track/trip. Can continue her good form and run a race at big odds.
21e. Cardinal Gem (5) – $31
Jockey – Jordan Childs 57.5kg
Trainer – Grahame Begg
Huge win at Flemington two back before another last to first victory at Caulfield last time out. This is tougher now but he continues to improve and should get conditions to suit. Not out of it.
22e. Jimmy The Bear (18) – $61
Jockey – Keagan Latham 57.5kg
Trainer – Patrick Payne
Didn’t have the best of luck last start at Caulfield but nevertheless ran well. This is tougher but doesn’t run a bad race too often and will be thereabouts if he gains a start.
Tune in as the top 4 year olds race for a 10 million purse with a fantastic supporting card!
Don’t miss all the action from Golden Eagle day.
📲 🖥️ 29TH October | Sky Thoroughbred Central pic.twitter.com/HCEbzsfB4m
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 25, 2022
23e. Flying Crazy (12) – $101
Jockey – Keagan Latham 57.5kg
Trainer – Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Got back and made steady ground in the Silver Eagle. Looks suited by the rise in trip but needs to find a few lengths on recent outings.
24e. Kiss Sum (1) – $34
Jockey – Jason Collett 57.5kg
Trainer – Tracey Bartley
Found the line well first up in the Silver Eagle. Winner this track/trip and suited up to 1500m but unlikely to get a run. However, if he does, he’s a definite winning chance at big odds.
Final Word
This year’s $10m Golden Eagle has once again brought together a quality field of four year olds and will have the eyes of punter’s firmly plastered to their TV sets come 4:45pm on Saturday afternoon.
The early speed looks electric and the race should set up for something to come from off the pace. With that said I’m going to go the way of I Wish I Win. He was outstanding on debut in Australia when winning in good time at Caulfield, before another dominant victory at Sandown. He was a beaten favourite last start in the Toorak, but still made some good late ground to finish 1.3L off the winner. He maps to get a nice run midfield here and feel he should be a lot shorter in the market.
UK import, Light Infantry, is an interesting runner and has been well supported. His last start second to Inspiral reads very good for this and he’s come up with an ideal gate. It’s always a risk backing an imported galloper first up in a new country but the stable have had success before with their internationals and he looks the main danger if he can bring his best form to the table here.
Despite the outside draw, Fangirl can improve sharply back on top of the ground. A repeat of her first up second to Anamoe would see her very hard to beat in this and Qld Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess is capable of running a bold race fresh. She trialled up well in preparation for this and comes from the astute Vandyke yard. Hope In Your Heart should be included in exotics after making it three wins on the hop last start. This race is tougher but she’s a mare in form and will get a nice run in the race.
Golden Eagle Tip
5. I Wish I Win – Each-way ($11/$3.50)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
