Golden Eagle Field, Barriers and Sires

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday October 25

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.

I'm Thunderstruck won the 2021 Golden Rose - image Steve Hart

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

Advertisement

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

Advertisment
More Reading...
Aussie 2YO SW for Tivaci
New Zealand-bred colt Matahga stamped himself as an exciting spring three-year-old prospect with a hard-fought victory in the A$120,000 Listed David Peacock Oaklands Plate (1400m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
Vinery Stud Announce Adam White as Interim Manager
From the 1st of July, Vinery Stud is pleased to announce the appointment of Adam White as Interim General Manager, following the resignation of Peter Orton. A dedicated and long-standing member of the Vinery team, Adam brings a wealth of experience and an in-depth understanding of both the business and the industry to this pivotal role.
Miss Joelene Achieves Millionaire Status
This time last year, Miss Joelene was highlighting herself as one to watch for the future, having placed in the Group 2 The Roses and the Group 1 Queensland Oaks, and after a few runs behind the outstanding Antino (Redwood) this time in, a class drop on Saturday saw her record victory in the $200,000 Listed BRC Tattersall’s Gold Crown (2100m) at Eagle Farm.
Promising 2YOs for Pike
Tony Pike found it difficult to split his juvenile charges the last time they took each other on and it’s the same story at Ruakaka.
Cambridge Stud to Sell Entire Draft at Karaka 2026
Leading thoroughbred nursery Cambridge Stud have committed their full support for NZB’s 2026 National Yearling Sales Series, with the announcement they will be selling 100% of their yearling stock at Karaka. 
Sires With Winners - Friday June 27
Here is the full list of 48 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Super Seth 3YO Salutes for Baker
A tenacious front-running performance in Saturday’s A$160,000 Captivant @ Kia Ora Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill added a first city victory to Puntin’s burgeoning record.
Corumbene Stud Homebred Tashi Wins G1 Tatts Tiara
From the last crop of foals sired by Widden Stud’s much missed Golden Slipper winning sire Sebring, five year-old mare Tashi may also be his final Group I winner as she produced a career best performance at Eagle Farm on Saturday to win the $700,000 Group I Tatts Tiara (1400m).
Another Aussie SW Sourced from Aga Khan Studs
When Australian investors buy tried horses out of Europe from Aga Khan Studs they know they are getting quality, but the good ones don’t come cheap with Elamaz (IRE) sourced from their draft at the Arqana Arc Sale last year for €480,000.
Sires With Winners - Saturday June 28
Here is the full list of 109 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.