Autumn Glow Faces Evaporate In Golden Eagle Showdown
Unbeaten Mare Seeks Eighth Straight Victory In Randwick Spectacular
The A$10 million (US$6.5 million) Golden Eagle returns to Randwick for the second year after its controversial relocation from Rosehill, with an unbeaten mare and a Melbourne Group One runner up heading the field for Australia's richest race exclusively for 4YOs. Autumn Glow, trained by Chris Waller, will attempt to extend her perfect record to eight wins when she takes on 16 rivals over 1500 metres, with Evaporate from the Lindsay Park stable of Ben, Will and JD Hayes looming as her biggest danger after his narrow defeat in the Toorak Handicap.
The venue switch came after only 10,000 people attended last year's running at Rosehill despite enormous promotion. Racing NSW stripped the venue of its biggest spring carnival race in the aftermath of the failed attempt to sell Rosehill Gardens, with authorities hoping the move to headquarters will double or triple attendance figures.
Waller Banks On Proven Distance Form
Waller's decision to run Autumn Glow stems from meticulous research into the race's history. His other contenders Lady Shenandoah has been reserved for The Russell Balding Stakes on the same programme, whilst Angel Capital is Melbourne bound for the Gr.1 C F Orr Stakes at Caulfield.
"All three could run in the Golden Eagle, but I've just found that when they have been on that sprinting campaign, it's a bit hard to jack them up straight to that 1500 metres," Waller said. "We went through the stats of the Golden Eagle, and most horses had been running over the mile that have won it. In that regard it suits Autumn Glow coming back from the Epsom and she's done a great job."
Unbeaten in seven starts, Autumn Glow won the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap carrying 54.5 kilograms from the widest barrier to defeat Fully Lit by one and a half lengths. She has since been back to the trials, finishing fourth over 1050 metres.
James McDonald will ride the mare after scoring on Autumn Glow on three occasions having done the early work on her.
Waller also saddles Lord Penman, who ran seventh in the Epsom before finishing second in the Silver Eagle over 1300 metres. Joao Moreira partners the gelding from barrier 16.
Hayes Brothers Favour Roomier Circuit
Evaporate will attempt to avenge his narrow defeat in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield, where he was beaten by Transatlantic after racing three wide early.
Ben Hayes believes a tough 1600 metres race under the belt should hold Evaporate in good stead when he drops back 100 metres. The 4YO has been aimed at the Golden Eagle since commencing his campaign with an unlucky fifth in the PB Lawrence Stakes at Caulfield in August. A foot niggle kept Evaporate from the track until winning the Gr.3 Sandown Stakes before running second to Transatlantic in the Toorak.
"He ran enormous in the Toorak," Hayes said. "On the day, Transatlantic got an easy lead, and we were the only horse that came out of the pack to challenge him. We slightly peaked on our run, but I think now that we've had those last couple of runs under the belt, he's definitely good enough to win a race like the Golden Eagle."
Hayes said the switch of venue is advantageous for Evaporate, who won the Carbine Club Stakes earlier in the year. "He won the Carbine Club up in Sydney earlier this year, so moving the race there, where he's run well before, might be an advantage for us," Hayes said. "Being on his Sydney leg might be a good thing for him. He relaxes better on that Sydney leg."
Evaporate has compiled 16 starts for six wins and five placings, earning A$1,591,726 (US$1,035,000). Nash Rawiller takes the mount from barrier seven.
Silver Eagle Winner Creates Fresh Appeal
Linebacker brings compelling credentials after winning The Silver Eagle impressively second up. The John O'Shea and Tom Charlton trained gelding claimed the Gr.1 Randwick Guineas in March, defeating Broadsiding by half a length under Zac Lloyd. This was his first Group One victory and marked Tom Charlton's first Group One win as a trainer.
Tom Charlton believes the step up to 1500 metres should bring out the best in Linebacker, who has drawn perfectly in barrier five. He mentioned that Linebacker beat Ka Ying Rising impressively in a recent trial. The gelding has earned over A$1 million (US$650,000) from eight starts with three victories.
Meanwhile, Sepals has bounced back from a nasty leg injury. Trainer Cliff Brown revealed the gelding required staples to his near hind leg after suffering a deep cut when he finished last in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.
"The first two or three days until Wednesday morning I thought 'We are in a bit of trouble here,' but from that point on, he has just been sensational," Brown said. "He's in Sydney now and he galloped great during the week so he'll go to The Golden Eagle with Ethan Brown to ride. He ended up with two staples in his back leg and I just thought 'What will I do'? But since then he's really come on."
The Gr.1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes winner carries 57.5 kilograms from barrier six.
Baker Hoping Luck Has Turned
Fresh off a feature success in The Invitation with his Group One winning mare Stefi Magnetica, Warwick Farm based conditioner Bjorn Baker lines up Mayfair and Perfumist.
Baker had been experiencing a frustrating carnival. Overpass ran fourth in The Everest, Pericles just missed the placings in the King Charles Three Stakes, Iowna Merc ran into one better in the Sydney Stakes, Mayfair placed in the Silver Eagle and Perfumist produced another solid run without saluting in the Angst Stakes.
Formerly trained by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott partnership, Mayfair is a new addition to the Baker stable, running third in the Silver Eagle in his first outing for the Kiwi born trainer, picking up A$96,000 (US$62,400).
"He was a very astute online purchase by Darby Racing, I think around the A$200,000 (US$130,000) mark," Baker said. "He's already guaranteed a spot in the field and Dylan Gibbons will ride."
Perfumist will be ridden by Rachel King. The mare won dominantly, leading throughout and setting a new race record of 1:33.01 over 1600 metres. Bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, Perfumist was purchased for A$190,000 (US$123,500) at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale. She has compiled 15 races for six wins and three seconds, earning A$542,508 (US$352,600).
International Challenge Strengthens Field
The international challenge includes Seagulls Eleven, representing trainer Hugo Palmer. The son of Galileo Gold won the Gr.3 Bonhams Thoroughbred Stakes at Goodwood in August, making all the running under Oisin Murphy and holding off Diego Ventura by three quarters of a length.
Palmer noted that gelding the horse has made a difference, as he can be quite a handful. The gelding is owned by current and former Brighton & Hove Albion footballers. Palmer confirmed international aims for Seagulls Eleven after his Goodwood success, stating he's rated similarly to Lake Forest from last year. Tom Marquand takes the ride from barrier three carrying 56.5 kilograms.
Japanese raiders Panja Tower and Eclair Encore add further depth. Panja Tower, trained by Shinsuke Hashiguchi, will be ridden by Kohei Matsuyama from barrier four carrying 56.5 kilograms. Kris Lees trains Eclair Encore, who jumps from barrier eight carrying 54.5 kilograms.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott partnership fields two runners. Fully Lit, with Regan Bayliss aboard from barrier 14, was beaten by Autumn Glow in the Epsom. Shangri La Spring completes their team from barrier 17.
Annabel and Rob Archibald also saddle two runners. Depth Of Character has Jason Collett aboard from barrier two, whilst Cristal Clear jumps from barrier 13. Further runners include Willydoit, trained by Ciaron Maher with Tim Clark aboard from barrier 11, Feroce trained by Dominic Sutton with Joshua Parr riding from barrier 10, and Modella from the Lee and Cherie Curtis stable completing the 17-horse field from barrier 12.
With the race now sitting alongside The Everest as a marquee spring attraction, racing authorities remain hopeful the venue change will revitalise Australia's richest race exclusively for 4YOs and restore the event to its former glory as a genuine alternative to Victoria's traditional spring dominance.
Golden Eagle 2025 Contenders
Evaporate (T: Ben, Will & JD Hayes / J: Nash Rawiller)
Feroce (T: Dominic Sutton / J: Joshua Parr)
Linebacker (T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton / J: Zac Lloyd)
Sepals (T: Cliff Brown / J: Ethan Brown)
Willydoit (T: Ciaron Maher / J: Tim Clark)
Fully Lit (T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / J: Regan Bayliss)
Depth Of Character (T: Annabel & Rob Archibald / J: Jason Collett)
Lord Penman (T: Chris Waller / J: Joao Moreira)
Mayfair (T: Bjorn Baker / J: Dylan Gibbons)
Shangri La Spring (T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott / J: TBA)
Cristal Clear (T: Annabel & Rob Archibald / J: TBA)
Panja Tower (T: Shinsuke Hashiguchi / J: Kohei Matsuyama)
Seagulls Eleven (T: Hugo Palmer / J: Tom Marquand)
Autumn Glow (T: Chris Waller / J: James McDonald)
Perfumist (T: Bjorn Baker / J: Rachel King)
Modella (T: Lee & Cherie Curtis / J: TBA)
Eclair Encore (T: Kris Lees / J: TBA)