By Scott Bailey
The racing spotlight will turn to Sydney again this weekend for the Golden Eagle, a $10 million set-weights contest over 1500m reserved for four-year-olds, now in its sixth running but debuting at Randwick after years at Rosehill. The move to Randwick is more than symbolic: organisers are hoping to breathe new life into the event by leaning into a vibrant race-day atmosphere and tapping deeper into younger crowds.
When this year’s field was declared, the barrier draw seemed to favour many of the leading chances. The undefeated mare Autumn Glow drew barrier nine and carries the mantle of favourite after her win in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at this track on October 4.
Trainer Chris Waller noted that the winners of this race historically have been prepared over a mile (1600m) or thereabouts, making Autumn Glow’s pattern particularly suitable. Also of note is the international interest: Japanese entrant Panja Tower who drew barrier four and represents the overseas challenge in a race that is increasingly attracting global runners.
The race sets up as a genuine test at 1500 metres with multiple on-pace influences and a quality mare who owns the right figures at the trip. Autumn Glow arrives unbeaten in her career and brings the authoritative Epsom Handicap win at Randwick where she travelled handy and quickened off a fast last six hundred. Barrier nine looks ideal for a similar stalking run and James McDonald can control the moment she rolls into clear air. On set weights she gives nothing away to the males and her profile at 1300 to 1600 reads like a blueprint for this race.
The Silver Eagle is the clearest lead-in and Linebacker was dominant there after an economical run just behind the speed. He draws to repeat from barrier five with Zac Lloyd and his Randwick mile win in the autumn says he will be strong late at 1500. If the rail is fair he maps to tag the leaders, present early and force Autumn Glow to beat him in the last one hundred.
Japan’s Panja Tower adds a layer of Japanese class and uncertainty that punters will like at the price. The NHK Mile winner owns a 1:31.7 Tokyo mile on good ground and arrived this prep with a sharp 1200 win that shows he has the toe for a pressure-on 1500. Barrier four gives Kohei Matsuyama first run on the big guns and if he travels within two lengths turning in his turn of foot makes him a live winning chance.
Evaporate is the seasoned four-year-old. His Toorak second at Caulfield and the Sandown 1500 win read perfectly for this distance and Nash Rawiller from barrier seven should find the one-one or sit outside a gentle leader. He is tough enough to absorb a mid-race squeeze and still be there when the real work starts. Fully Lit brings the Epsom second but now rises to the level-weights scenario which is less favourable, though his on-speed pattern keeps him in the frame for the minors.
Perfumist is the map horse for the blowout. She draws barrier one, owns a fast on-pace Randwick mile win two starts back and Rachel King can hold the rail and make others work to get around her. If the tempo is controlled, she becomes very hard to get past for a place and is the each-way play that improves the book. Lord Penman has Moreira and current fitness with a Silver Eagle second but the wide alley makes him tempo dependent. Seagulls Eleven brings fresh European form with a Goodwood Group 3 at the mile and Tom Marquand to navigate gate three which makes him an exotic inclusion at odds. Feroce is an Australian Guineas winner and is capable of improving sharply second up at this trip.
Sepals is a talented type and must not be forgotten after his G1 Sir Rupert Clarke win two starts ago after having everything go wrong in the Toorak the following run. He never looked comfortable in that affair and connections must be happy with him to persist and send him north for this challenge.
Autumn Glow is seven from seven overall with three from three at Randwick and a Group 1 mile win at this track. Linebacker owns a Randwick Guineas win at the mile and arrives off a two and a half-length Silver Eagle. Panja Tower is a Group 1 mile winner in 1:31.70 and draws to use that turn of speed. Evaporate has multiple wins between 1400 and 1600 and brings current top-class placings. Perfumist is two from five at Randwick with a fast on-pace mile win this month and the rail draw to repeat the pattern.
In overall predictions I like Autumn Glow to confirm her status as the best four-year-old at a mile in Sydney right now, Linebacker the most logical threat from the map, Panja Tower the x-factor, Evaporate for the quinella and trifecta, Perfumist the fence-saving value.
Top 4 Picks
- Autumn Glow — unbeaten this prep, dominant Epsom winner at Randwick, perfect draw to stalk and pounce
- Linebacker — emphatic Silver Eagle winner, soft map from gate 5 to get first run
- Panja Tower — G1 NHK Mile winner with elite turn of foot, drawn to camp behind speed
- Evaporate — rock-solid last start Toorak second and Sandown 1500 win, lands one-one from 7
Value Picks
Perfumist — rails draw, recent fast Randwick mile on-pace, sticky late for the minors
Lord Penman — race-fit, Silver Eagle second, jockey upgrade offsets wide alley
Seagulls Eleven — fresh Euro G3 mile winner, soft draw in 3 makes him an exotic spoiler
Last Six Golden Eagle Winners
2024 — Lake Forest (GB), Cieren Fallon, William Haggas
2023 — Obamburumai (JPN), Joshua Parr, Keiji Yoshimura
2022 — I Wish I Win (NZ), Luke Nolen, Peter Moody
2021 — I’m Thunderstruck (NZ), Hugh Bowman, Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
2020 — Colette (AUS), Koby Jennings, James Cummings
2019 — Kolding (NZ), Glen Boss, Chris Waller
