The lure of a $10 million prize pool has drawn Dominic Sutton to Randwick chasing the Golden Eagle.
Not yet two years into his training career, Sutton already has a Group 1 win under the belt courtesy of the success of Feroce in the Australian Guineas (1600m) at Flemington.
Feroce is the horse Sutton is hoping will give the trainer his biggest prize money cheque when he lines up in the Golden Eagle (1500m) on Saturday.
Sutton has had the Golden Eagle programmed for Feroce wince the gelding ended his three-year-old campaign when sixth in the Australian Cup (2000m) at Flemington in March.
After two pleasing runs at Caulfield, Sutton headed to the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 11 with high hopes.
“It was obviously disappointing as we thought he could go there and win the Toorak, but we got the tactics wrong on the day,” Sutton said.
“We had to make a decision from barrier eight and the way the speed map was we either had to go back to last or try and put him into the race.
“We tried to put him into the race, but he did a lot of work early.
“He ran the quickest sectionals from the gates, but we probably learned a bit about him in that he needs a bit of cover in these high-pressure Group 1 races.”
Feroce won a Flemington jump-out on October 24 to show he had lost none of his confidence and Sutton has worked the gelding right-handed to have him spot on for Saturday.
At $61, Sutton said Feroce was a forgotten horse leading into Saturday’s race.
“He’s going to be the forgotten horse going up there against the big names like Autumn Glow, Linebacker, Evaporate, all coming off very good runs,” Sutton said.
“What we’ve seen at home is that he has really bounced out of that Toorak run and we’ve worked him the Sydney way a few times and his rider reports he goes better that way.
“He’s going up there rock hard fit and we know he’s a good horse on his day.”
With regular rider Billy Egan out suspended, Sutton has called on Josh Parr for the ride.
“Billy got a big slap on the wrist out of the Toorak, and it finishes after Derby Day,” Sutton said.
“So, Josh Parr rides. He’s a very good jockey and gets rides in all the big races up there.
“He understands the tactics of the other jockeys, and he knows the Sydney horses, the ones to follow and which ones not to.
“He’s a nice patient rider and he should be the right fit.”
