Panja Tower's Golden Eagle Dream Takes Flight
Japanese Champion Sets Sights On Randwick
Japanese trainer Shinsuke Hashiguchi is preparing Panja Tower for an ambitious tilt at the A$10 million Golden Eagle at Royal Randwick on November 1. Australian Turf Club head of racing and wagering Nevesh Ramdhani has confirmed the participation, noting: "The first thing his trainer, Mr Hashiguchi, said in his winning interview when he won the NHK Mile was that he would send this horse to the Golden Eagle. That horse is now locked in to travel to Sydney for the race."
The participation marks Hashiguchi's first international campaign, following a distinguished lineage of Japanese trainers conquering Australian racing. Most notably, Keiji Yoshimura made history in 2023 when his charge Obamburumai became the first Japanese-trained winner of the Golden Eagle, claiming the A$5.25 million first prize at Rosehill.
Panja Tower secured his first Group One victory in the NHK Mile Cup at Tokyo Racecourse in May, this year, with the 3YO bay colt, ridden by Kohei Matsuyama, breaking from gate 11 and settling in a wide midfield position before unleashing a devastating closing kick to win by a head over Magic Sands.
"Even before I let him run in the NHK Mile Cup, I was thinking that if he won, he would go to Australia," Hashiguchi revealed, his forward-thinking approach typifying modern Japanese racing's global ambitions.
Tactical Masterstroke Behind Randwick Switch
The venue change from Rosehill to Randwick has played a crucial role in Hashiguchi's calculations, with Racing NSW moving the Golden Eagle to create a four-week carnival at Randwick alongside the Gr.1 TAB Everest, Spring Champion Stakes and the Big Dance, elevating the race's profile within Sydney's spring calendar.
"It's wider than Rose Hill Garden, and the straight lines are longer, so I think it will suit Panja Tower," Hashiguchi explained, demonstrating the tactical analysis that separates elite trainers from the rest. "As for the strategy, there is a gate number order, so I'm thinking of consulting with the jockeys once those are decided."
This methodical approach extends beyond track configuration, with Hashiguchi conducting extensive research, including consultations with connections of Obamburumai. "I knew that Japanese horses were suitable for me, and I talked to the owner and the person in charge of Obamburumai. After that, I decided it was a good race to aim for."
The trainer's preparation philosophy remains unchanged despite the international setting. "It is thought that the flow of races will change in Japan and Australia. However, when it comes to training, there is no particular change in what we do."
Australian racing's clockwise direction traditionally poses challenges for Japanese horses accustomed to anti-clockwise tracks, yet Hashiguchi dismisses concerns about Panja Tower's adaptation with characteristic pragmatism.
"It just happened that he didn't have a good record clockwise, but looking at his training movements, it doesn't mean he's particularly bad at clockwise," the trainer stated. This observation-based approach, focusing on training indicators rather than race results, reflects the scientific methodology driving Japanese racing's international success.
The trainer's confidence received validation when Panja Tower overcame clockwise challenges at Sapporo Racecourse, proving his adaptability under race conditions. "Regardless of the results of the previous race, I was thinking of going ahead with this expedition. Of course, when it comes to training, I won't do anything special with clockwise in mind."
Champion Bloodlines Fuelling Rising Star
Born at Champions Farm in Hokkaido, Panja Tower carries significant bloodstock heritage through his sire Tower of London, who conquered Nakayama with victory in the 2019 Sprinters Stakes, establishing himself as a top-class performer before retiring to Darley Japan.
The colt's dam, Clarksdale, an unraced mare by Victoire Pisa, was purchased for US$9,400 ( ¥1.5million ) at the 2019 Northern Farm Broodmare Sale. Despite her modest racing career, she carries distinguished bloodlines through her dam Acoustics, who produced Japanese Derby winner Logi Universe.
Panja Tower's career began with a maiden victory at Chukyo Racecourse over 1,200 metres in September 2024, before securing his first stakes victory two months later in the Gr.2 Keio Hai Nisai Stakes at Tokyo, rallying strongly to defeat Meiner Ticket by a neck.
Shinsuke Hashiguchi's credentials extend well beyond his current charge, with his most significant victory coming in 2018 when Graceful Leap claimed the JBC Sprint at Kyoto, marking Hashiguchi's first Group One triumph as a trainer. The 8YO chestnut's victory was particularly impressive, as Graceful Leap had compiled an exceptional dirt record with 12 wins over distances between 1,200 and 1,400 metres, including notable victories in the 2016 Summer Champion, 2017 Korea Sprint, and 2018 Hyogo Gold Trophy.
Hashiguchi inherited the training operation from Kojiro Hashiguchi, who retired in 2015 after training One And Only for a Japanese Derby victory in 2014. However, the current trainer's vision extends far beyond domestic achievements, positioning his stable among the new generation of internationally minded operations.
Golden Eagle Formula Suiting Japanese Raiders
The Golden Eagle represents a unique racing proposition that has captivated international raiders since its inception in 2019. As the world's richest race exclusively for 4YOs, the 1,500-metre contest attracts the finest middle-distance performers at the perfect stage of their careers.
Last year's winner, Lake Forest, trained by William Haggas, exemplified the winning formula, with the UK raider's surprise victory demonstrating how explosive closing speed can prove decisive at Rosehill's demanding trip. Ridden by Cieren Fallon, Lake Forest settled off the pace before unleashing "an explosive turn of foot" to catch French galloper Lazzat in the final strides.
The race's appeal to international competitors lies in its timing and conditions, with set weights ensuring fairness, while the 1,500-metre distance suits horses possessing both tactical speed and stamina. Racing NSW designed the contest to encourage quality 3YOs to remain in training rather than retire to stud.
For Japanese connections, the Golden Eagle offers the perfect platform to showcase their horses' adaptability, with the race's emphasis on tactical positioning and closing speed naturally suiting Japanese training methods. At the same time, the substantial prize fund and growing international prestige make it an irresistible target.
Global Expansion Beginning With Randwick
The Australian expedition represents merely the opening chapter of Hashiguchi's ambitious international programme. "Next year, we are considering an expedition to Saudi Arabia and the United States. In any case, it will depend on the results in Australia this time," he revealed, outlining potential campaigns spanning three continents.
This measured expansion reflects the trainer's professional approach to global competition, with Hashiguchi mapping out a detailed preparation schedule. "After adjusting for a while at the Ritto Training Centre, he's going to go to Champion Hills on September 26 this year to enter quarantine. After that, I plan to have him leave for Australia on October 12. Igarashi, his handler and rider, will accompany him."
"He's the type of horse that improves once he runs a race, so I'm sure he'll be in even better shape this time than he was in the last race," Hashiguchi noted, referencing the colt's commanding victory in the Gr.3 Keeneland Cup in August this year. "He's a horse that is resilient to changes in the environment, so I'm not particularly worried about transportation."
The trainer draws inspiration from racing professionals worldwide rather than focusing solely on domestic competition. "I am inspired by all the horsemen who are active around the world. I am motivated by the idea that we cannot afford to lose," Hashiguchi stated. "We will do our best to carry out our work well in Australia as well."
With departure scheduled for October 12, all elements are aligning for what promises to be Hashiguchi's defining moment as a trainer. The meticulous planning, strategic venue analysis, and careful dismissal of traditional concerns about clockwise racing demonstrate a trainer operating at the peak of his profession.
Panja Tower arrives in Australia not as an unknown quantity, but as a Group One winner with the tactical speed and finishing kick that have proved decisive in previous Golden Eagle victories. His ability to quicken decisively in traffic, demonstrated perfectly in the NHK Mile Cup, mirrors the explosive closing burst that carried Lake Forest to victory twelve months ago.
The stakes extend beyond individual glory, with success at Randwick establishing Hashiguchi among racing's international elite, following the path blazed by Keiji Yoshimura and Obamburumai. More importantly, it would prove that Japanese racing's methodical approach to international competition can succeed on any stage.
As the racing world prepares to witness another chapter in Japan's international expansion, Hashiguchi's calm confidence suggests he believes his charge possesses the qualities needed to conquer Australia's richest prize. Whether Panja Tower can deliver remains to be seen, but few would bet against a trainer whose planning has been this thorough.
The Golden Eagle takes place at Royal Randwick on Saturday, November 1, 2025, with the racing world watching to see if Hashiguchi's calculated gamble can deliver another memorable Japanese triumph on the international stage.