The Golden Eagle is the feature event at Rosehill Gardens this Saturday and with $10m on offer, there is no shortage of talent in this year’s line up.
Eight individual Group One winners will make up the 20 horse field and with four international raiders have made the journey hoping to take home the spoils, we’re set for a cracking race.
A 1500m affair for the four year olds, the headline event was first run in 2019 and is now the world’s fourth richest race run on turf.
To make it extra special, 10% of all prizemoney goes straight to charity, with connections nominating their favoured organisation prior to the race.
Rebecca Hill details her thoughts on each horse below. (Prices current at time of publish)
1. Southport Tycoon (15)
Price: $11.00
Southport Tycoon has been terrific all three runs this campaign and the Australian Guineas winner is sure to relish the rise to 1500m.
After a brilliant second up win in the Manikato Stakes he then stepped out in the Sydney Stakes where he finished off strongly into third but just gave the impression he was now looking for further.
He’s fit and whilst the wide draw isn’t favourable, he’ll get back and is sure to be doing his best work late.
With Mark Zahra staying in Melbourne, Craig Williams will take the mount for Ciaron Maher.
2. Veight (18)
Price: $51.00
Veight hasn’t had things go his way in two runs back from a break and he’ll enjoy getting out to the 1500m.
Resuming in the Manikato, the entire was found to have boil on his wither which no doubt would caused him plenty of discomfort and last start, in the Silver Eagle, he settled at the tail after being crowed early and only really got going late.
The last time he stepped out over this course and distance he proved superior in the George Ryder .
Runner up in the both the Caulfield Guineas and Australian Guineas, he’s a class horse and is sure to improve with the rise in trip.
Barrier 18 however, is a big concern and he’ll need plenty of luck in running.
3. Tom Kitten (2)
Price: $10.00
Tom Kitten looked set for a big campaign as he resumed to take out the Spring Preview in dominant fashion.
Having been gelded after he failed to fire in the Autumn, the ultimate gear change appeared to have had the desired effort and whilst he’s yet to salute again in three subsequent runs, he’s been solid through the line on each occasion.
Always wide in the Epsom Handicap, the Godolphin galloper let down strongly over the final part to claim second behind Ceolwulf and it was similar story again last time as he charged home from the tail for fourth in the King Charles Stakes.
He’s fit, he’s certainly capable and barrier two can settle within striking distance.
4. Ostraka (13)
Price: $21.00
Ostraka is airborne this campaign, with three wins from as many starts.
The son of Pariah rounded out his Winter campaign with his first stakes win, taking out the Listed QLD Day Stakes and has returned in fine order, with back to back wins in Benchmark company before a very impressive all-the-way win in the Silver Eagle.
He’s only had the one start past 1400m, which was in last years Callander – Presnell and he dropped out after enduring a tough run, so the distance is a slight query but he’s a horse on the way up and he’s doing everything right, so you certainly can’t knock him.
5. Griff (6)
Price: $91.00
Griff is lining up for his fifth run of the preparation and has yet to figure, but he has had excuses.
He was found to have a throat condition following his third run back and at his most recent outing, he settled back near the tail and never saw clear air in the straight.
A winner of four from 13, with no minor placings, he’s a hard one to catch but last year’s Caulfield Guineas winner isn’t short of talent.
Dylan Gibbons will take the mount for Ciaron Maher and barrier six should him afforded his chance but he’ll need to produce his best to be competitive here.
6. Encap (1)
Price: $21.00
Encap is racing in top form and the extra 100m here looks ideal for the Gary Portelli trained gelding.
He brought up his second career victory two starts back in the Theo Marks Stakes and was doing his best work late last time in the Alan Brown.
Winner of the Ming Dynasty last Spring, he then was denied by the barest of margins in the Golden Rose.
Stakes placed on a further three occasions, with solid form around him he’s certainty not lacking in ability but just struggles to get the job done.
7. Xidaki (10)
Price: $61.00
Xidaki has put together a very tidy record, having only missed a top three spot once in his ten starts to date and that was on a very heavy track.
The Peter Snowden trained son of Zoustar recorded his first stakes win back in March when taking out the Listed Canberra Guineas and he proved too strong in the Group 3 Sunshine Coast Guineas in July.
He returned off a break with a very encouraging performance in the Silver Eagle where he settled in behind the speed and was strong late, claiming second behind Ostraka.
He’s a horse on the way up and will appreciate the rise in trip but will need to go to a new level to test some of these.
8. Chrysoar (14)
Price: $91.00
Chrysoar is a smart horse on his day but he’s very hard to catch.
The Better Than Ready gelding recorded his biggest win to date when saluting in the Callander-Presnell this time last time.
He didn’t have the best of luck in three runs during the Brisbane Winter Carnival but returned in good order to win first up in the Listed Tontonan Stakes at Flemington.
After enjoying a good run in a midfield position last start in the Epsom Handicap he failed to finish off and it’s hard to see him measuring up here on the back of that.
9. Kintyre (3)
Price: $81.00
Kintyre is never far away but is another that’s hard to catch.
The second of Gary Portelli’s runners, the gelding has continued to perform well as stakes level throughout his career but doesn’t win out of turn.
He just failed to finish off in the Epsom Handicap after wanting to do overdo it in the early part and back in grade last time, he looked to have everything in his favour but just battled over the final 100m.
Barrier three should see him afforded every chance but he’ll need to improve.
10. War Machine (7)
Price: $46.00
Only lightly raced, War Machine has quickly put together a very tidy record.
The son of Harry Angel made it three wins in succession, including the Listed Bendigo Guineas in his first preparation and hasn’t been far away in two runs back this campaign.
Runner up to subsequent Group Two winner Baraqiel when resuming, he then produced a solid effort to finish third in the Silver Eagle.
He looks suited stepping up to 1500m but will need to go to a whole new level here.
11. Port Lockroy (9)
Price: $81.00
Port Lockroy steps out for the Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald yard and it’s safe to say the Better Than Ready entire looks tested here.
With just the two wins to his name, a Scone Maiden and a MB72 on the Kensington track, he’s yet to prove himself at a high level.
Beaten narrowly when resuming behind Ostraka, he then finished off nicely in the Silver Eagle but I think he’d be better suited in something easier.
12. Lazzat (12)
Price: $6.50
Lazzat is perhaps the most intriguing runner in this year’s Golden Eagle.
The French galloper remains unbeaten in six starts, working his way through his grades from a maiden win to Listed, two Group Threes and most recently he proved superior in the Group One MRC De Cheest at Deauville.
His first three outings were all over the 1500m journey so there’s no query at all at the distance or the fact that he’s first up.
He’s proven in all conditions and but has not trialled since his arrival in Australian so it’s hard to get any sort of gauge on him but his latest win at the top level was very impressive, as he pulled away to score by three lengths.
Antonio Orani has partnered him in all six raceday appearances, he’s made the trip to ride him here and I think he’s a big danger.
13. Craig (5)
Price: $19.00
Craig is a very smart horse on the rise and proved up to the task when stepping out at the elite level for the first time in the Toorak Handicap.
Off the wide gate he was taken back to the rear and finished off strongly into second.
Only lightly raced, having had the eight career starts he just the one run at Newmarket before making his way down under and was quick to make an impression as he recorded a dominant fist up win over 1400m at Bendigo.
He’s since added another two wins to his tally and is yet to finish out of the placings.
He has been unlucky on a few occasions and I think he’ll continue to rise through the grades but this will be his toughest test to date.
14. Lake Forest (8)
Price: $31.00
Lake Forest will have his first start on Australian soil.
Prepared by William Haggas, the UK galloper has made it two wins and three second placings from his seven career starts and but interestingly, all of his runs have been at the 6 furlong journey.
His most recent start was in the Group Three Hackwood Stakes where he got back and when brought to the outside, hit the line strongly into second, suggesting he’d be suited over more ground.
The team knows what it takes to win big races here so if he does see out a strong 1500m, he’s sure to make his presence felt.
15. Stefi Magnetica (4)
Price: $10.00
Stefi Magnetica just held her ground to the line last start in The Everest and she’ll appreciate stepping out over more ground.
The All Too Hard mare worked her way from a Wellington Maiden to a Stradbroke Handicap in under twelve months and returned in top order with a slashing run in The Shorts, where she was beaten by the barest of margins.
She put the writing on the wall back in March with a brilliant effort in the Surround Stakes to finish a narrow second and she came back better again last preparation, which saw her take out Queensland’s biggest race.
The rise to 1500m looks ideal and barrier four is a big plus.
16. Joliestar (11)
Price: $5.00
Not a lot went right for Joliestar in The Everest but I think she can bounce back here.
Finding herself back at the tail approaching the home turn she worked home strongly between runners, doing her best work late to finish only 1.6 lengths off Bella Nipotina.
A high-class mare, the daughter of Zoustar brought up her first Group One win at her fifth race start when victorious in the Thousand Guineas and returned in the Autumn for just one run where she saluted in the Arrowfield Stakes.
Given plenty of time, she resumed in fine style to take out the Show County Quality with ease and was solid through the line second up to finish third in the Sheraco Stakes.
Her last two runs suggest she’s looking for further and she’s sure to relish the rise to 1500m here.
17. Makarena (20)
Price: $35.00
Makarena is racing well and secured her first stakes win when taking out the Group Two Golden Pendant here at her second run back.
The daughter of Snitzel turned out some top performances in the Autumn against quality opposition and has just continued to improve.
She was solid through the line last week in The Invitation finishing third behind Belclare and Magic Time and her prior start, she was never on the track after drawing wide in the Alan Brown Stakes.
Unfortunately for her connections she’s drawn the carpark here so it’s likely to be a similar story.
18. Skybird (16)
Price: $51.00
Skybird has returned in top order this campaign and this is sure to be a truly run race which will suit her.
Denied by the barest of margins when resuming in the Bobbie Lewis, she was again only narrowly beaten second up in the Rose Of Kingston Stakes.
Last start she wasn’t suited by the tempo in the Tristarc Stakes and just got left flat footed when the sprint went on.
A dual Group Two winner, the Mitchell Freedman trained mare isn’t lacking in class but this will be her toughest test to date and she’ll need everything to go her way.
19. Ascoli Piceno (17)
Price: $4.20
Japanese visitor Ascoli Piceno brings terrific form down under and looks a major payer here.
Only lightly raced, having had the six starts, the Group One winning mare has yet to miss a top two spot and her most recent victory was particularly impressive, as she swept past them in the straight to pull away and score easily.
Funnily enough, Joao Moriera denied her back to back Group One wins when beating her home in the Japanese Guineas back in April and he’ll take the mount for Yoichi Kuroiwa.
They do have to overcome barrier seventeen but she’s a high class galloper and the Japanese always have to be respected when bringing their horses here, as time and time again, they get it right.
20. Corazon Beat (19)
Price: $61.00
Corazon Beat is the second of the Japanese runners to line up in this years edition of the Golden Eagle.
The four year old mare was victorious at Group Two level at her fourth race start and then was beaten only 1.6 length behind Ascoli Piceno in the Group One Hanshin Juv Fil, a mile race for the fillies.
She was beaten a long way in the Japanese Guineas back in April before heading to the paddock and returned at Group three level at Nakayama, where she finished well back in the race which was again won by Ascoli Piceno.
Connections wouldn’t bring her all this way if they didn’t think she’d be competitive, but it’s hard to see her turning the tables on her Japanese counterpart, especially with the horror draw. .
Selections:
1st – Joliestar
2nd – Lazzat
3rd – Ascoli Piceno
4th – Tom Kitten