Racing NSW boss Peter V’landys believes the $10 million Golden Eagle deserves Group 1 recognition, but says the governing body will wait for Racing Australia’s updated Pattern Guidelines before making a formal push.
Since the 2024 edition of the lucrative four-year-old race, eight of its runners have gone on to claim Group 1 victories, reinforcing its growing reputation as a springboard to elite-level success.
The latest to add to that list is Lazzat, last year’s Golden Eagle runner-up, who was recently acquired by Qatar’s Wathnan Racing and delivered on the international stage with a win in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes (1200m) at Royal Ascot in the UK. Trained by French horseman Jerome Reynier, the performance further bolstered the race’s credentials.
Other notable graduates from the 2024 Golden Eagle to secure Group 1 success include Stefi Magnetica (Doncaster Mile), Tom Kitten (All-Star Mile), Joliestar (Kingsford-Smith Stakes), Port Lockroy (Railway Stakes), War Machine (Stradbroke Handicap), Skybird (Black Caviar Lightning) and Ascoli Piceno (Victoria Mile).
With such a strong form line, V’landys maintains that the Golden Eagle is already delivering at the highest level, even if formal Group 1 classification is yet to be assigned.
