Coinciding with the Victoria Derby at Flemington, the fifth edition of The Golden Eagle headlines the 10-race program at Rosehill this Saturday.
Worth $10 million, Australia’s second-richest race has attracted a quality field of four-year-olds, including proven Group 1 winning mare Amelia’s Jewel and Queensland Derby winner, Kovalica.
Hawaii Five Oh lines up following a huge run in The Everest, while Kiwi import Legarto is back on Australian soil for the first time since her Australian Guineas win during the autumn.
There’s a genuine case to be made for almost half the field, and our thoughts on every runner in this year’s Golden Eagle can be found below.
2023 Golden Eagle Betting Strategy
- 1 Unit Amelia’s Jewel
- 0.5 Unit Legarto, 0.5 Unit Hawaii Five Oh
1. Hawaii Five Oh (4)
Continues to improve with racing and looks ready to peak now fourth-up.
His effort two back behind Think It Over in the Premiere Stakes was outstanding, working home beautifully down the outside to miss out by a head-bob right on the line.
The son of I Am Invincible backed that up with a similar performance for sixth in The Everest, and considering this is just his 12th career start, there’s still plenty of improvement to come.
2. Attrition (19)
This son of Churchill has gone up a nice price for a horse coming off a Group 1 Toorak Handicap win.
He kept finding to run down some tired horses over the final 100m, fending off Antino after finding the middle of the track coming out of the turn.
Off that, the step back to 1500m does look ideal, but on debut at Rosehill with a more genuine tempo expected, I can only entertain him for a place.
3. Pericles (1)
Pericles had his chance at a hat-trick denied in the Silver Eagle, a race he looked a strong chance of winning when finding the front at the top of the straight.
He was no match for the fast-finishing Vienna Princess and Strait Acer over the final 100m, but I think he’s worth forgiving considering he was five weeks between starts that day.
I’m not sure the drop back to 1300m was to his liking, so this step back out over further could be what he’s searching for. The form out of his win in the Tramway two back has been solid, and if there is some rain about on Saturday, it’s worth monitoring the betting.
4. Golden Mile (18)
He’s been a tricky horse to work out this prep.
The Astern entire scored a well-deserved win in the Theo Marks Stakes three back, going on to run a huge race for third in the Epsom three weeks later where he led right up until the 50m mark.
How much that effort took out of him is the big question, be appeared to have lost a step when beaten six lengths in the King Charles III Stakes a couple of weeks ago at Randwick.
He’ll no doubt roll straight to the front and look to lead, but I’m not sure there’s enough left in the tank at this stage of his prep.
5. Kovalica (16)
Kovalica has been flirting with another win since resuming in the Theo Marks three back.
He was arguably the run of the race in the Epsom three weeks later, peeling out midfield to charge the line and miss out only narrowly by a nose to Rediener.
I think he can be forgiven for his run in the King Charles last start, caught wide from a very tricky gate after giving away a start.
Back in trip and set to peak now with some fitness on his side, this looks a nice race for him to atone.
6. Rediener (3)
Rediener can be forgiven on his run in the King Charles, over-racing early on and never really handling the extra weight in the run home.
His win in the Epsom the start prior was very good, letting down beautifully at the 300m mark to win right on the line.
His recent trial failed to impress, but he’s done it over this trip previously. If there’s rain about, his claims only strengthen.
7. Osipenko (8)
Osipenko finished within 1.5 lengths of Anamoe over the track and distance in the George Ryder earlier in the autumn, but it’s tough to get a read on his prep so far.
He probably would have won the Makybe Diva two back at Flemington if he wasn’t held up for a run, but I thought his effort in the Turnbull Stakes three weeks later left a bit to be desired.
A trial between starts might do him some good, but I don’t think he’s going well enough to win.
8. Strait Acer (7)
There may not be a more in-form horse in this year’s Golden Eagle than Strait Acer.
The son of Headwater put together a hat-trick two back at Randwick, denied only narrowly in the Silver Eagle a fortnight later after weaving his way through traffic at 40-1 odds.
The fact his winning streak started over this track and trip reads exceptionally well, and at a big price, he’s arguably the best knockout chance with Tyler Schiller riding plenty of winners of late.
9. Communist (12)
Communist was an impressive winner of the Randwick Guineas midway through the autumn, beating home the likes of Aft Cabin at a nice price.
He’s failed to go close to another win though, and based on hios effort in the Epsom, a win here look very unlikely.
10. Coin Toss (17)
Coin Toss made his Australian debut in the Silver Eagle a fortnight ago where he was entitled to finish three lengths off after struggling to find a run.
He put together two solid Group 2 wins in Singapore before making the trek over, while his second-up record also reads quite well.
There’s big scope for improvement, but I think he’s still worth watching at this stage of his prep.
11. Knight’s Choice (10)
Knight’s Choice is one of the more interesting runners in the field at a nice price.
He wasn’t much chop on return at Randwick, but his effort three weeks later out to the mile was solid given he had genuine excuses in the run home.
As we saw during the Winter Carnival in Queensland, he takes a few runs to warm into his prep, so I wouldn’t be shocked if he ran top five.
12. Obamburumai (2)
Japanese import Obamburumai is on debut for trainer Keiji Yoshimura, hoping to add to his short but impressive resume.
The four-year-old entire won back-to-back starts to begin his career, including the Group 2 Nosai Stakes over 1400m.
He resumed in the Arlington Cup at Hanshin a narrow winner back in April, followed up when third to Champagne Color in the NHK Mile Cup not long after.
There’s no doubting his talent, but how he handles 1500m fresh is the big query.
13. New Endeavour (13)
New Endeavour is an Irish gelding making his second start down under.
The Waterhouse and Bott-trained four-year-old was runner-up in a Group 2 at Newbury before making the journey over, working home nicely in the final few strides in the Silver Eagle despite racing wide.
He’s got some upside, but I think he might need easier at this stage of his prep.
14. Age Of Kings (11)
Ascot is another Irish raider making his first start in Australia.
He was second last to greet the judge in the Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas earlier in May, but did make amends in impressive fashion winning a Group 3 at Royal Ascot to wrap up his prep.
His two trials leading in haven’t been flash and he’s likely to need the run.
15. Galeron (14)
Galeron is on debut for trainer Charles Hills in search of his third career win.
The lightly-raced entire was the last one home in the Group 1 St James’s Place at Royal Ascot back in June, while his latest effort in a Group 3 wasn’t much better.
16. Amelia’s Jewel (5)
West Australian superstar Amelia’s Jewel is looking to add to her resume after being denied her hat-trick in the Toorak three weeks ago.
Simon Miller’s mare plugged away after finding the centre of the straight, lacking her usual kick when asked to give something extra around the 100m mark.
The stable have since said that something was amiss leading into the race, but they have full faith she’s back to full strength ahead of her first look at Rosehill.
This has been the plan all along for the Group 1 winning mare, and with her win in the Northerly Stakes coming at this stage of her prep over the summer last year at Ascot, it’s no surprise to find her as the favourite.
17. Ruthless Dame (20)
Ruthless Dame brings different form lines into her fourth start of the spring.
The Tavistock mare is on a short back up after contesting The Invitation last week at Randwick, charging to the line in a four-way go to finish runner-up by the barest of margins to Espiona.
There’s no knock on the form around that mare, and based on the way she finished off, 1500m presents no issue whatsoever.
18. Legarto (6)
Legarto arrives from across the Tasman for her second start in Australia.
The Kelso-trained mare was the narrow winner of the Australian Guineas during the autumn, returning back home to New Zealand where she recently won the Matamata Cup by close to a length.
Both starts back home were to get her ready for the Golden Eagle, and although this is her first look at racing in Sydney, all reports suggest she’s ready to fire.
19. Vienna Princess (9)
Vienna Princess has her sights set on a hat-trick after claiming the Silver Eagle two weeks ago.
She gave good chase to find the front at the 200m mark after racing wide, and there’s still scope for improvement in just her third start of the spring with Kerrin McEvoy sticking in the irons.
In well at the weights, she should be able to run another big race – especially if she settles a little closer to the speed on this occasion.
20. Razeta (15)
Razera is a lightly-raced mare stepping out for her fourth start of the spring under Kris Lees.
She’s run some okay races here at Rosehill in the past, but based on her effort in the Silver Eagle, this looks a little beyond her.