*Note: In 2022, the Silver Eagle will be held on Saturday 15th October at Randwick Racecourse after the original date of the race on 8th October at Randwick was abandoned due to the poor weather in Sydney.*
Held over 1300m at Royal Randwick Racecourse, the Silver Eagle is a special conditions race for four-year-olds only. Introduced to the Sydney Spring Racing calendar in 2019, the $1m feature is vastly becoming a key race in its own right, and the first three across the line become exempt from ballot in the $7.5m Golden Eagle, run in three weeks time. Last year’s Silver Eagle was taken out by Aim, who went around at big odds ($31), with Hugh Bowman in the saddle.
Looking at this year’s market, Dabble has the Team Hawkes trained, Mr Mozart, favourite at $3.80. A host of runners including; Espiona ($6.00), Startantes ($6.50), Waterford ($6.50) and Vilana ($8.50) are also in contention according to the market.
As the market suggests, this year’s Silver Eagle is anyone’s 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 Silver Eagle along with The Shark’s best tips.
1. Mr Mozart (1) – $3.80F
Jockey – Brenton Avdulla 57.5kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Rolled forward and was only nabbed late in the Theo Marks first up. Should be fitter here and will roll forward from the inside gate. Not overly keen to take the price on offer but concede he is a winning hope.
2. Startantes (2) – $6.50
Jockey – Damian Lane 56.5kg
Trainer – Robert Heathcote
Got to the line well first up in the Sheraco behind Shades Of Rose before finding nothing but backsides in the Golden Pendant last start. Brings some solid form lines into this and looks to get a gun run here. Big chance.
The first three home in Saturday’s $1m Silver Eagle at Royal Randwick are exempt from ballot into the $10m Golden Eagle held at Rosehill on October 29. Check out the final field and barriers 👇 pic.twitter.com/pI3dLcT2Ym
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 4, 2022
3. Vilana (9) – $8.50
Jockey – Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
Trainer – James Cummings
Resumes here after finishing midfield in the Stradbroke. Had the benefit of two trials leading into this and has a liking for wet tracks. Must be considered.
4. Kiss Sum (6) – $11
Jockey – Kerrin McEvoy 56.5kg
Trainer – Tracey Bartley
Resuming. Rounded out last prep with a dominant win in the Gunsynd Classic at Eagle Farm. Should be ready to go off the back of two trials and handles all conditions. Each-way chance.
5. Flying Crazy (13) – $51
Jockey – Keegan Latham 56kg
Trainer – Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou
Got back and never threatened first up in the Weetwood at Toowoomba. Rise in trip suits but recent form isn’t strong enough to win this.
6. Ranch Hand (10) – $71
Jockey – Jay Ford 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Wanted to lay in and weakened late last start behind Top Ranked in the Bill Ritchie. Not racing as well as he can but could improve with the blinkers back on here.
7. Brigantine (17) – $21
Jockey – Rachel King 56kg
Trainer – James Cummings
“The conditions will be very testing so having a run under his belt will be an advantage.”
James Cummings on Godolphin’s Silver Eagle prospects Brigantine and Vilana and will we see Selous in the Roman Consul at Randwick on Saturday. 📸Steve Hart
READ: https://t.co/7CjG2l3vqy pic.twitter.com/CG5vB298dz
— Racing NSW (@racing_nsw) October 6, 2022
Got back and swept home to record a strong win first up in BM88 grade first up. Form around Fangirl and Hilal last prep is good for a race like this. Outside gate is not ideal but should be respected on recent form.
8. Loch Eagle (5) – $11
Jockey – William Pike 56kg
Trainer – Kris Lees
Came from last on the turn to score well first up in BM78 grade. Wasn’t far away from some key rivals here last prep and has a brilliant record on soft and heavy tracks. Will get a soft run from the gate and will be strong late. Each-way claims.
9. Maurice’s Medad (12) – $71
Jockey – Craig Williams 56kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Ran well first up behind Finepoint here at Rosehill two weeks ago. Will roll forward from the gate here and can handle all conditions. May find a few of these a bit too sharp in the concluding stages but can run a cheeky race at odds.
10. Waterford (18) – $6.50
Jockey – Hugh Bowman 56kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Big win first up at Rosehill followed by another strong win here last start, which kept his unbeaten Australian record intact. Comes into this a month between runs but has trialled since to keep him ticking over. He’s one from one on the heavy and looks to have plenty of upside going forward. One of the main hopes.
11. Cotehele (7) – $34
Jockey – Tom Sherry 56kg
Trainer – John O’Shea
Resumes here after a BM78 win on heavy ground at the end of last prep. This looks a tough ask first up but has trialled very well and can run a bold race at big odds.
What a cracking day we all had at @tabcomau Epsom Day🎉
The rain won’t scare us this Saturday for Silver Eagle Day. All patrons have access to the new $46m WINX Stand 🥂
Tickets: https://t.co/ALxioDziJ8 pic.twitter.com/g69JMAxnuT
— Australian Turf Club (@aus_turf_club) October 5, 2022
12. Tonneofgrit (11) – $126
Jockey – Jim Byrne 56kg
Trainer – Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes
Resumes here off the back of two recent barrier trials. Looks a tough essay first up and would need to find on his best form if he was to take home the winners trophy.
13. Lavish Girl (15) – $16
Jockey – Sam Clipperton 55.5kg
Trainer – Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Trialled well before a good first up effort in the How Now at Caulfield on a heavy track. Will be sent forward from the wide gate and her recent form suggests she should be more than competitive.
14. Espiona (14) – $6.00
Jockey – Brett Prebble 54.5kg
Trainer – Chris Waller
Brett Prebble is heading up to Randwick this Saturday to ride for @cwallerracing.
Booked for:
• Espiona- Silver Eagle
• Political Debate- Gloaming Stakes
• Written Beauty- Nivison
• Polly Grey or Grace’n’Harmony- Angst@Racing— Trav Noonan (@TravTurf) October 4, 2022
*This horse has since been scratched.*
Had excuses first up before an improved effort in the Golden Pendant last start. Will have to go back from the wide gate but should be peaking third up here and will relish the wet ground. Must include.
15e. Global Ausbred (8) – $126
Jockey – N/A 56kg
Trainer – Brad Widdup
Finished midfield in the Qld Derby before a spell. Looked good in two recent barrier trials but he looks a bit out of his depth first up in this field.
16e. Jimmy The Bear (16) – $23
Jockey – Chad Schofield 56kg
Trainer – Patrick Payne
Consistent galloper who was good last start behind Cardinal Gem who has since won again. Unbeaten at 1300m and shouldn’t be far away in previous efforts.
17e. War Eternal (4) – $34
Jockey – N/A 56kg
Trainer – Bjorn Baker
Failed to make an impression in the Epsom last start. Tends to mix his form and might find this a bit tough.
18e. Stray (19) – $91
Jockey – Dylan Gibbons (a) 54kg
Trainer – Anthony Cummings
Steps up from BM72 grade last start where she was well beaten and best form is over further. Not keen.
19e. In The Congo (3) – $9.00
Jockey – N/A 58.5kg
Trainer – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Offered little in the McEwen first up at Moonee Valley. Trialled well since and can figure if he runs up to his best form, but looks an unlikely starter.
Final Word
A competitive full field will greet the starter in this year’s Silver Eagle and although rain has eased this week, the track will still be in the soft/heavy range.
Mr Mozart is into $4 to win Saturday’s Silver Eagle! 📉 pic.twitter.com/HKm2afeiNY
— TAB (@tabcomau) October 5, 2022
Going with Tatts Tiara winner, Startantes, on top here. She got to the line well first up behind Shades Of Rose before a luckless midfield finish in the Golden Pendant last start. She is effective on wet ground and will get a nice run in transit from the good gate. Chris Waller has a strong hand in the race with Waterford and Espiona who both look strong winning chances.
Loch Eagle loves the wet, Brigantine was good first up, as was Lavish Girl, and Cotehele has trialled super and could run a big race at odds. Happy to go around Mr Mozart who has been well found in the market and has to carry top weight in a competitive field.
Silver Eagle Tip
2. Startantes – Each-way ($6.50/$2.40)
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*Odds correct at time of writing, courtesy of Dabble.
