Worth a whopping $10million the ATC Golden Eagle (1500m) is set aside for four year-olds and has drawn a stellar field that is packed with intrigue and a look at the three previous winners may give some insight into finding the winner this year.
The Golden Eagle has been run three times so far and each time has been won by a horse that was already a Group I winner given the set weight conditions favour the proven quality horses.
2021 – I’m Thunderstruck (NZ)
2020 – Colette
2019 Kolding (NZ)
I’m Thunderstruck won the Group I MRC Toorak Handicap as his lead up race and has gone right on with the job since, finishing a brave second to Anamoe in the Cox Plate last week.
Colette won the Australian Oaks and was then fifth in the Group I George Main Staked and sixth in the Epsom before her Golden Eagle win and then added the Group I VRC Empire Rose Stakes to her resume last spring.
Kolding won the Group I ATC Epsom Handicap as his lead up run and has won two more Group I events subsequently.
There are five Group I winners engaged this year with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained duo Converge and In the Congo, the Chris Waller trained mares Hinged and Fangirl with David Vandyke looking to win the race first up with his Queensland Oaks winner Gypsy Goddess.
Imported raider Light Infantry (Fr) fits the profile as he has proper Group I form in Europe albeit without winning. He was impressive winning his only two starts as a juvenile including a G3 win and then finished ninth in the Group I Newmarket 2000 Guineas at his first run of the year.
His only two subsequent runs were in Group I mile races at Deauville beaten on each occasion only by an outstanding filly, Tenebrism beating him in the first and then Inspiral in the second, so that form would have him right in the mix.
Light Infantry is by a sire in Fast Company that probably isn’t that well known in Australia, but he was a Darley based son of Danehill Dancer that died in 2020 at age 15 and has left 23 stakes-winners.
GOLDEN EAGLE FIELD – (Number-Horse (sire)-Trainer-Jockey-Barrier-Weight)
1 OVERPASS (Vancouver) Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 3 57.5kg
2 CONVERGE (Frankel) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Regan Bayliss 16 57.5kg
3 IN THE CONGO (Snitzel) Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 4 57.5kg
4 VILANA (Hallowed Crown)James Cummings Nash Rawiller 24 57.5kg
5 I WISH I WIN (NZ) (Savabeel) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 14 57.5kg
6 MR MOZART (Snitzel) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Brenton Avdulla 23 57.5kg
7 HILAL (Fastnet Rock) Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Jay Ford 17 57.5kg
8 MILITARY EXPERT (Redoute’s Choice) Annabel Neasham Tommy Berry 19 57.5kg
9 LIGHTSABER (Zoustar) Peter G Moody 15 57.5kg
10 PINSTRIPED (Street Boss (USA) Enver Jusufovic Sam Clipperton 22 57.5kg
11 BRIGANTINE (Astern) James Cummings 7 57.5kg 91
12 LIGHT INFANTRY (FR) (Fast Company) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Jamie Spencer 8 56.5kg
13 WELWAL (GB) (Shalaa )Chris Waller 9 56.5kg
14 HINGED (Worthy Cause) Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 20 55.5kg
15 FANGIRL (Sebring) Chris Waller Hugh Bowman 21 55.5kg
16 CHAIN OF LIGHTNING (Fighting Sun) Peter G Moody Ms Jamie Kah 2 55.5kg
17 GYPSY GODDESS (NZ) (Tarzino) David Vandyke William Pike 6 55.5kg
18 LADY OF HONOUR (Mo Nay Never (USA)Ben & JD Hayes Jake Noonan 13 55.5kg
19 LAVISH GIRL (Xtravagant) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace 11 55.5kg
20 HOPE IN YOUR HEART (Dundeel) Kerry Parker 10 55.5kg
21e CARDINAL GEM (Choisir) Grahame Begg Jordan Childs 5 57.5kg
22e JIMMY THE BEAR (Jimmy Creed (USA) Patrick Payne 18 57.5kg
23e FLYING CRAZY (Flying Artie) Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Keagan Latham 12 57.5kg
24e KISS SUM (Shamus Award) Tracey Bartley Jason Collett 1 57.5kg
