On Tuesday, with rain falling down, the barrier draw for the rich $7.5 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill this Saturday, took place on a boat out on the harbour.
And Gai Waterhouse said she would trifecta the race.
“Look, my horses are very fit and they handle the wet track, so I think all of them will be in the top three.”
Gai, along with her trainer partner Adrian Bott, train JUST THINKIN’ (So You Think-Nothin’ Leica Cat), DAWN PASSAGE (Dawn Approach-Raja Lane) and RIODINI (Proisir-Giardini).
And she wasn’t put off when they drew gates Just Thinkin’ (21); Dawn Passage (16) and Riodini (7)
Market 💰: View the Odds for the Golden Eagle
Mind you, Gai is never put off by bad barriers. She and Adrian generally send their horses forward in their races and more often than not, horses who race like that get out and go faster from wider gates.
“This is a great race and with the component in there for helping charities I just think Racing NSW should be applauded for the initiative.”
Ten percent of the entire prizemoney will be donated to charities of the top five runners home, and each horse in the field has a charity attached to it.
Of Gai and Adrian’s runners, the riders are: Tim Clark on Children’s Cancer Institute representative Dawn Passage.
Brenton Avdulla will ride Riodini for the National Jockey’s Trust.
While Kathy O’Hara will partner Just Thinkin’ for Riding For The Disabled.
Godolphin also have three runners and could easily upset the Tulloch Lodge hopes.
COLETTE (Hallowed Crown-Libretto), FLIT (Medaglia D’oro-Glissade) and the rising restricted grade star CRIADERAS (Lonhro-Youthful Presence). All are very fit and all are in form.
Darren Beadman was on hand at the draw and was asked point blank, if he was riding which one of the Godolphin trio would he rode.
Without hesitation he said, “Colette. She is a real swimmer, is very, very fit and an absolute star.”
Unfortunately for the fans of FUNSTAR (Adelaide-Starspangled) and ALLIGATOR BLOOD (All Too Hard-Lake Superior) drew poorly.
Funstar, runner-up in the Gr 1 Epsom over a mile last start, drew 22 while Alligator Blood will step from 15.
Both have blown in the market following the draw.
