The $7.5 Million Golden Eagle (1500m) has a capacity field at Rosehill on Saturday, with quality on display not just from Australia, but there are several internationals engaged, so with the big field, a good speed is expected on a relatively dry deck.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2021 Golden Eagle.
2021 Golden Eagle Speed Map
Looks to be good speed here. Ellsberg won’t want to give up his inside draw so he will hunt up. Queensland galloper Apache Chase likes to sit handy so he won’t be far away, likewise Vangelic. The unknown is Maximal in 22 (18 after emergencies). Stable have indicated they wanted to be positive pre barrier draw. Does that change now? If they roll the dice, he could land in the first few one off.
2021 Golden Eagle Runner Preview
1. Private Eye: He’s flying this guy. Brilliant win from the back to win the Epsom and looks to be ticking along beautifully based on a recent trial. Handles all conditions, the Epsom was a strong race, he’s hard to beat.
2. I’m Thunderstruck: Brilliance wise, he’s the best horse in the race and smashed the clock in winning the Toorak. He did that with a featherweight though and now up in weight against some big boys and girls, does he warrant being as short as he is? Personally, I’d want $6+ before diving into him. He can win, but you’d want a better price.
3. Aegon: His 3YO form would see him go close. Just no idea what to make of him. The Memsie was an ordinary Group l and was never a factor in the Makybe Diva behind boom horse Incentivise. I’d be surprised if he won.
4. Apache Chase: He’s the unknown. How will he measure up here? 2/2 in Brisbane this prep, but relative to what he faces here, he has beaten nothing. But, back in the Winter in the Fred Best, he did beat one time favourite for this race, Ayrton. He’ll be on speed and giving his all.
5. Aysar: To me, he seems a horse who thrives best down in the weights so 57.5kg here is an ask for him and while he was good in the Rupert Clarke, his subsequent run was average. Nice trial, but I can’t entertain him as a winning threat.
6. Aim: Potential egg on the face, but I’m trashing the Silver Eagle as a form reference. Even allowing for Triple Ace breaking down, the time was average and everything fell into place for Aim. He wants a rock hard surface and I doubt he gets that, plus this is a class rise.
7. Amish Boy: Awful racing pattern that relies on luck. Made ground late in the Silver Eagle but was never a threat and I’m binning that race, so I’m happy to put a line through him here.
8. Exoboom: Race was set up for him last Saturday and he duly saluted. Comes through the Silver Eagle though so that concerns me. Good draw for him and his racing style. But would need to improve a fair bit.
9: Ellsberg: He’s done little wrong this time in. Super first up winner before a gutsy second in the Silver Eagle. He has a good racing pattern but just lacks the turn of foot and I think that will bring him undone.
10: Love Tap: Looked back on track with a dominant win fresh at Kembla, but I thought he had his chance in a weak Shannon Stakes. Seems to race best on the fresh side and has home track advantage, but looking elsewhere.
11. Count De Rupee: He should have won the Silver Eagle. Got completely flattened and did a remarkable job to run third. He’s come back as good as ever, but I just don’t think he has the class to beat some of these.
12. Law Of Indices: I think he’s #2 seed of the internationals. Does boast a win over Cox Plate winner State Of Rest, which clearly reads well. The knock I have with him is outside that, the form is suspect. But from all reports he has settled in nicely at Canterbury and we know these overseas runners are near unbeatable.
13: Maximal: Had he drawn a better gate, I’d declare him. His form from the UK, Hurricane Lane, Poetic Flare, Baaeed…that is world class form. And with due respect, this isn’t a strong Golden Eagle. If he gets luck from the gate, I just think his form will stand up and he’ll win.
14. Reve De Vol: Stable have indicated he is a 2000m horse for the Autumn, whether that means a Queen Elizabeth? His overseas form is solid without jumping up and down. If he has been trained to get speed in the legs, he’s one I could include in wider exotics.
15. Forbidden Love: Seven day back up after a game third last Saturday in The Invitation, a race which was ordinary on the clock and to the eye. She had a suck run behind the speed and battled on well. She’d need to improve I feel to trouble these.
16. Vangelic: Messy prep. Looked spot on after the Golden Pendant, then came back in trip when copping the worst of the interference in the Silver Eagle. Had her chance last Saturday in The Invitation so looking elsewhere.
17 Media Award: If there is a total blowout chance, I think she’s one who could surprise. Race shape was against her in The Invitation when first up but her late splits weren’t too bad. Fast run 1500m I see as a positive and she could sneak a first four spot at a big price.
18. Atishu: Talented mare, but was it an end of prep run in the Epsom? Seemed to have her chance but was near a fast speed, so a tick for her for sticking on so well. Needs plenty of luck from the gate, but she comes through a strong race.
19. Kiku (First Emergency): Solid third in the Angst but this looks a bridge too far for her and I dare say even if she did get a start here, they’d still head to Flemington with her in search of blacktype.
20. Our Playboy (Second Emergency): Just lost sight of the bunny fresh behind Apache Chase but very late was warming to the task. If he was to get a run, he’d do no work from the draw, got enormous upside…I have seen worse $101 shots.
21. Wheelhouse (Third Emergency): Third emergency so unlikely to get a run, but I have to take a slice of $101+. I could get him down to as short as $21/$26. Resumed in a prep race more or less in the Sydney Stakes over 1200m and I thought he was excellent behind Big Parade. Tick up in trip, tick in the right camp, upside, strong form…why is he such a big price?
22. Blondeau (Fourth Emergency): Good late in the Silver Eagle but this looks a bridge too far. Eligible for much easier.
2021 Golden Eagle $100 Betting Strategy:
Three horses stand out to me, so it’s $30 Win on Private Eye, I’m Thunderstruck and Maximal. I would have had the lot on Maximal but the gate worries me. The other $10 will be on Wheelhouse at $101. Unlikely to gain a run, but for mine, is just the wrong odds.
Group l Strategy Outlay: $2080
Group l Strategy Return: $1646.5
