With $10 million on the line and a field of star four-year-olds ready to soar – the 2025 Golden Eagle is set to take flight at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
Derby Day might be taking place in Melbourne as Flemington’s Melbourne Cup Carnival kicks off, but the racing action further north is out to steal the spring spotlight with Sydney gearing up for the seventh edition of the world’s richest race for four-year-olds.
NSW’s second most-wagered race has drawn a top-class field dominated by Chris Waller’s unbeaten young mare with the golden touch – Autumn Glow.
So, will the emphatic Epsom Handicap champion extend her picket fence with an eighth win on the trot or is there an upset pending from the likes of the flying Silver Eagle winner Linebacker or Japanese visitor Panja Tower?
From the undefeated favourite to the international raiders and every contender in between, we’ve got the Ladbrokes lowdown on every runner chasing Golden Eagle glory on the weekend.
Read on for our expert runner-by-runner guide to the 2025 Golden Eagle!
- Top 2 – No. 14 Autumn Glow
- Top 3 – No. 3 Linebacker
- Top 4 – No. 8 Lord Penman
| 14. Autumn Glow (8) J: James McDonald 55.5kg 1×111T: Chris Waller | ||
| 3. Linebacker (5) J: Zac Lloyd 57.5kg 18×71T: John O’Shea & Tom Charlton | ||
| 8. Lord Penman (15) J: Joao Moreira 57.5kg x2772T: Chris Waller |
1. Evaporate (7) – Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Odds: $11 (at time of publish)
Lindsay Park’s in form Per Incanto gelding Evaporate looks back on track after his first-up blip when unplaced in the Group 2 PB Lawrence back in August.
There was plenty of pre-spring hype around this still emerging young gun and he comes into his Grand Final fit fourth-up and ready to peak at the right time.
Two back he narrowly denied Transatlantic in the Group 3 Sandown Stakes giving weight away before his second to that galloper at his latest over the Caulfield mile in a thrilling Group 1 Toorak finish.
Back against his own age at set weights and drawn well in barrier seven with options for Nash Rawiller, this Kiwi bred gelding is definitely in the mix.
He’s got a great record at the distance and has won here before when claiming an emphatic Group 3 win over Swiftfalcon at Randwick back in the autumn.
A horse who has been strong when carting more weight than his rivals all prep, and he meets a more level playing field now.
The shift from Rosehill to Randwick is ideal for this guy who can handle the longer straight and gets the space he needs.
Expect him to settle just off the speed and, if the tempo is solid, he’ll handle the pressure and make his presence felt late.
2. Feroce (10) – Dominic Sutton
Odds: $51 (at time of publish)
Super Seth gelding Feroce also comes out of the Toorak, but his run failed to impress.
He looked uncomfortable throughout when sitting outside the leader and never loomed as a threat eventually crossing eighth.
Prior to that he was huge at 30/1 when third to Sepals in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke, so the ability is there when he gets the right run.
Jumps from gate 10, like he did in the Sir Rupert, so maps well and he looked sharp in a recent Flemington winning jump out last Friday.
A Group 1 winner at HQ back in the autumn taking out the Australian Guineas at a big price, he’s forgotten in the markets again but the draw suits his racing style and he’s one I think could surprise a few if he races something closer to his best.
3. Linebacker (5) – John O’Shea & Tom Charlton
Odds: $6 (at time of publish)
Linebacker for mine is an obvious danger to the favourite based on the ease of his lead-up win in the Silver Eagle.
This son of Super Seth is another four-year-old in the field with a Group 1 win already on the CV having taken out the autumn’s Randwick Guineas at this track over Broadsiding in a hot race.
His Doncaster eighth behind Stefi Magnetica – a subsequent winner of last weekend’s The Invitation – after that was also enormous as he crossed only 1.18 lengths off her in a blanket finish.
Forgive his Tramway run first-up when seventh to Pericles – he was drawn gate 16 of 16 and did his best work late quickening nicely at the top of the straight and going on with it.
Put the writing on the wall with his 2.63 length romp home from gate 12 of 13 in the Silver Eagle over 1300m, the step back up in distance now suits and the flying Zac Lloyd sticks in the saddle.
Drawn kinder in gate five on Saturday and ticks plenty of boxes to give this a shake-up.
4. Sepals (6) – Cliff Brown
Odds: $15 (at time of publish)
Cliff Brown’s stable ace Sepals has eased out in Golden Eagle betting after failing to beat home any of his rivals in a shock last-place (10th) finish in the Toorak Handicap.
He had plenty of excuses however suffering some nasty interference at a crucial stage up the top of the hill, and we know he’s capable of better.
Showed his true credentials last month in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke when beating home Miss Roumbini by nearly a length.
That said, he had just 52kg on his back for that, so he needs to rise meeting this field at set weights.
He suffered a nasty leg laceration that nearly ended his campaign in the Toorak but has made a remarkable recovery and impressed in a recent Sydney gallop to confirm his spot in the Golden Eagle field.
Barrier six looks ideal and Ethan Brown continues associations.
Look, he’s a Group 1 winner and has shown plenty of resilience, but I’m still questioning just how much that Toorak horror show took out of him.
5. Willydoit (11) – Ciaron Maher
Odds: $15 (at time of publish)
The reigning NZ Derby winner is a horse I’ve tipped for a run in the money a couple of times this prep since he joined the Maher yard, but I’m afraid he hasn’t delivered, and I cannot stick with him for this tough affair.
His last start on October 11 at Rosehill in the $1.5 million Alan Brown was disappointing when seventh to Headley Grange, and I don’t think that’s the right form line to follow into this.
Still, he’s a lovely big striding galloper whose career best was over 2400m across the Tasman when claiming the Group 1 at Ellerslie by over two lengths.
Has form around Aeliana when fourth in the ATC Derby, also over the mile and a half, so there’s no doubt the 1400m in the Alan Brown was short of his best trip.
Would love to have him in a 2000m or above feature as I think the 1500m is still too short for him to feature.
6. Fully Lit (14) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Odds: $26 (at time of publish)
Fully Lit has suffered a blow drawing wide out in gate 14 but remains in the mix having shown plenty of promise and progression this campaign.
He hasn’t run worse than third since early August, was third to subsequent Alan Brown champ Headley Grange in Newcastle’s Group 3 Cameron Handicap over this distance two back and then caught the eye when second at 30/1 to the boom horse in Saturday’s feature in the Epsom.
Does rise notably in weight from 50kg to 57.5kg which I don’t love, but he comes via a winning Randwick trial and won’t be disgraced.
7. Depth Of Character (2) – Annabel & Rob Archibald
Odds: $101 (at time of publish)
The first of two in the field for the Archibalds, Depth Of Character will jump as one of the rank outsiders and the only way I see him paying any rewards is those in a sweep that pays something for last place!
Randwick is unquestionably not his preferred track – he’s had eight starts here for just two thirds.
One of those was second-up this prep in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie but he’s failed to show anything in his two following runs to suggest he’s up to this.
Dead last in the Epsom Handicap despite a light weight and favourable draw, he didn’t get the best luck there but not enough to excuse his flat finish.
Was luckless again when eighth in the Silver Eagle getting closed out of a run despite looking like he had plenty in him.
Jason Collett wasn’t writing off his Golden Eagle chances after that run and he stays on, which is a positive, but he could get trapped for room from barrier two and I don’t think luck will be on his side again.
Happy to leave out.
8. Lord Penman (16) – Chris Waller
Odds: $51 (at time of publish)
Waller saddles-up not only the favourite but also this 50/1 outsider at time of publish with Lord Penman jumping from the second widest alley.
Brazilian superstar, the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira, is booked for the tough ride and he’s a big race specialist so that is a tick.
His lead-up run was solid enough when a distant second behind the runaway Silver Eagle winner, and the Kiwi expat is now out to try and produce something huge to turn the tables.
Likely to be ridden cold from the gate and saved for a late run, as is Moreira’s specialty in the saddle, this horse has been steadily building and could surprise if the race sets up for the late swoopers.
His price is very attractive to throw into the exotics as he has upside and comes from a master trainer.
Don’t discount.
9. Mayfair (15) – Bjorn Baker
Odds: $51 (at time of publish)
Another runner with a wide Golden Eagle barrier to try and beat, last year’s Golden Rose third placegetter moved from Waterhouse & Bott to Baker at the start of this prep.
He kicked off in the Silver Eagle when 2.7 lengths back third as one of the best out of that lead-up heading into Saturday’s $10 million event.
Things got very tight in that race, and this guy did very well showing plenty of guts to poke his head through and put in a great first-up performance.
Fitter for the run he should naturally improve on that, and he’s won second-up in the past.
Jockey switch sees Dylan Gibbons come aboard, and if you like Linebacker then surely this guy comes into calculations as a smokey to add into the exotics at an underrated price.
10. Shangri La Spring (17) – Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Odds: $51 (at time of publish)
Outside alley belongs to Castelvecchio entire Shangri La Spring who has the right pedigree but unfortunately not the right barrier.
Third-up on Saturday he is another that caught the eye in a roughly run Silver Eagle crossing fourth, and he could have been set to explode third-up if it weren’t for gate 17.
A progressive type and still lightly raced, he has the right turn of foot and adaptability to make up ground if he can get a gap at the right time.
I like him and think he’s got a bright future, but he could need a little more racing and a better barrier to really tap into that.
Next time.
11. Cristal Clear (13) – Annabel & Rob Archibald
Odds: $101 (at time of publish)
Exceedance gelding Cristal Clear comes into the Golden Eagle field with one of the more consistent string of lead-up performances.
He won three on the trot from late August until the end of September in easier company including a nice Dubbo Gold Cup victory over 1600m carrying plenty of weight.
At his latest he gave weight away to run second at Warwick Farm also over the mile in a BM88 in mid-October.
Knows how to win, is at the right distance and set weights suit.
The negative? He’s rising notably in class and faces a field full of depth including a host of proven Group 1 horses.
Has ability but too big a risk and there are other roughies with better claims.
12. Panja Tower (4) – Shinsuke Hashiguchi
Odds: $6 (at time of publish)
One of the key players, the visiting Panja Tower is out to become the second Japanese trained Golden Eagle winner after the 2023 win by Obamburumai.
This raider brings in some excellent form lines from back home and the internationals have won the past two editions so we know that can stack up in Sydney.
Building an imposing record as a four-time winner from six starts, the nicely bred and valuable Tower Of London entire can further boost his credentials and future stud potential with a good performance down under.
A proven Group 1 champion at Tokyo over a mile when a $26 chance back in May, he then won the Group 3 Keeneland Cup (1200m) in late August to show his versatility.
Don’t think he will be too sharp for the 1500m despite two months between runs, and he’s drawn to get all the favours from gate four with regular jockey Kohei Matsuyama also travelling down under for the ride.
Looks like he’ll handle the Australian conditions, is capable of producing a sharp sprint when needed and I think he shapes up as a genuine top four contender.
13. Seagulls Eleven (3) – Hugo Palmer
Odds: $26 (at time of publish)
We saw the Brits steal the show with Lake Forest’s Golden Eagle win in 2024 and Seagulls Eleven is currently at 25/1 to go back-to-back for the UK.
Hugo Palmer’s Galileo Gold gelding was a Group 3 winner over the mile with 58.5kg at the start of August in a telling performance but failed to strike again at 50/1 when up in grade at his latest in the Group 1 City Of York Stakes (1408m) later that month.
Lake Forest ran third in that so there’s intriguing form around him and he’ll benefit from the elite booking of Tom Marquand.
Gate three is another plus, and while he’s untested on Australian soil, his international credentials and proven turn of foot make him a serious wildcard with top three potential.
14. Autumn Glow (9) – Chris Waller
Odds: $2.10 (at time of publish)
We reach the top of the markets now and what’s not to love about a class mare who is yet to taste defeat coming into this?
She is seven from seven, including a trio of Randwick wins making her a genuine specialist at the track, and the standout favourite for good reason.
Comes in off a dominant Epsom Handicap win that stamped her as a rising superstar, and from a midfield gate nine draw, she looks perfectly placed to extend her winning streak.
The punters are backing Waller’s unbeaten daughter of The Autumn Sun to hand the stable its second win following Kolding’s inaugural triumph in 2019.
Her Epsom win from gate 12 was outstanding and she now chases the same rare double Kolding achieved.
With James McDonald choosing to ride her over Melbourne Group 1 options – fresh off his fourth straight Ladbrokes Cox Plate win – confidence is sky-high that she can join Colette (2020) as the only mares to claim Golden Eagle glory.
If she handles the step back to 1500m and gets clear running, there’s every indication Autumn Glow will deliver one of the most commanding Golden Eagle wins yet.
I’m a fan and will be taking her even at the short odds.
15. Perfumist (1) – Bjorn Baker
Odds: $15 (at time of publish)
Another mare out to beat home the boys, Perfumist is drawn barrier one and Baker’s daughter of El Roca will be partnered by Rachel King.
She has a good strike rate at Randwick (5:2-2-0) having won here by 1.5 lengths two back in a BM94 over the mile before a last start second in the Group 3 Angst Stakes.
Definitely not a bad mare and she’s been able to handle herself well in some large fields here, but I don’t think she brings the strongest form lines.
Right draw to get a soft run and the distance is spot on but class wise could just be lacking against a few of these rivals.
16. Modella (12) – Lee & Charlie Curtis
Odds: $101 (at time of publish)
Syndey local Modella has a lovely pedigree being a daughter of dual Group 1 winner and 2020 Cox Plate runner-up Castelvecchio, but this progressive mare is being given close to a zero chance as a triple figure outsider.
Her form this time in has been pretty good however including a seventh when only three lengths off Manaal at Rosehill in the Group 2 Golden Pendant before she dropped right back in grade to get her confidence up with a Midway BM72 win over 1400m at the same track on October 11.
She is bred to get the distance despite having only won up to 1400m to date, so I really like her up in the metres now.
Looks to be putting it all together now but does need to go to another level.
I think she’ll outrun her price but not enough to be a top three threat.
17. Eclair Encore (8) – Scratched
Happy punting!