The countdown is on for the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) this Saturday at Rosehill, with the barrier draw adding another layer of intrigue to this year’s race.

Joliestar

Joliestar is a genuine winning hope in Saturday’s $10 million The Golden Eagle for the Waller stable. Photo: Ultimate Racing Photos.

Japanese trainer Yoichi Kuroiwa attempts to achieve a historic feat with Ascoli Piceno, the early favourite at $4.80 in Golden Eagle 2024 betting at Ladbrokes despite her horror barrier 17 draw.

This classy mare, ridden by Joao Moreira, looks to emulate Obamburumai’s victory in 2023 and become the second consecutive Japanese Golden Eagle champion.

However, the home team isn’t going down without a fight with plenty of top locals in the 20-horse Golden Eagle race field.

Chris Waller‘s Thousand Guineas winning daughter of Zoustar, Joliestar, has emerged as a strong contender at $5 Golden Eagle odds.

Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, Joliestar seeks to join Colette (2020) as the only Golden Eagle winning mares.

Her recent Group 3 victory and a close finish when a midfield seventh in The Everest showcase her potential.

Adding to the international flavour, the undefeated French gelding Lazzat is attracting attention at $6 as the early The Golden Eagle betting market mover.

Trained by Jerome Reynier, Lazzat boasts a perfect record of six wins and brings a winning streak to Sydney.

Godolphin seeks redemption with Tom Kitten after the Royal Blue brigade ran second and third in last year’s Golden Eagle trifecta.

Drawn in barrier two (the same gate as Obamburumai in 2023), Ben Melham will guide Tom Kitten who has been performing well this preparation.

Bjorn Baker‘s Stradbroke winner Stefi Magnetica (Zac Lloyd) and Ciaron Maher‘s Manikato Stakes victor Southport Tycoon (Craig Williams) are other top local Golden Eagle contenders who shouldn’t be overlooked. Both horses are drawn well and have the talent to challenge.

While the draw plays a role, Rosehill’s 1500m track allows for wider-drawn horses to find a good position.

Southport Tycoon, for example, will need to overcome gate 15, but his early speed could help him overcome this obstacle.

This year’s Golden Eagle promises a thrilling contest.

Can Japan repeat their success? Will a local horse prevail? The answer will unfold on Saturday as these talented four-year-olds battle it out for Golden Eagle glory in Randwick Race 8 at 4:45pm (AEDT).

2024 Golden Eagle Field

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 9x2219x513 SOUTHPORT TYCOON Ciaron Maher Craig Williams 15 57.5kg 113
2 25x1421x09 VEIGHT Tony & Calvin McEvoy Harry Coffey 18 57.5kg 110
3 65464×1524 TOM KITTEN James Cummings Ben Melham 2 57.5kg 107
4 10x321x111 OSTRAKA Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Chad Schofield 13 57.5kg 105
5 111x7x8590 GRIFF Ciaron Maher Dylan Gibbons 6 57.5kg 104
6 x32560x714 ENCAP Gary Portelli Jason Collett 1 57.5kg 102
7 2211x621x2 XIDAKI Peter Snowden Tom Sherry 10 57.5kg 100
8 x20x766x10 CHRYSAOR Chris Waller Regan Bayliss 14 57.5kg 99
9 43113×5494 KINTYRE Gary Portelli Reece Jones 3 57.5kg 95
10 39x111x23 WAR MACHINE (NZ) Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson Jay Ford 7 57.5kg 94
11 5x26772x36 PORT LOCKROY Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald Adam Hyeronimus 9 57.5kg 86
12 1111x11x LAZZAT (FR) Jerome Reynier Antonio Orani 12 56.5kg 112
13 3×1213122 CRAIG (GB) Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young Nash Rawiller 5 56.5kg 103
14 12417x22x LAKE FOREST (GB) William Haggas Cieren Fallon 8 56.5kg 103
15 342x531x29 STEFI MAGNETICA Bjorn Baker Zac Lloyd (a) 4 55.5kg 114
16 2221x1x137 JOLIESTAR Chris Waller Kerrin McEvoy 11 55.5kg 110
17 25244×4103 MAKARENA Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes Tyler Schiller 20 55.5kg 108
18 13x519x237 SKYBIRD Mitchell Freedman Beau Mertens 16 55.5kg 99
19 1x1x1x22x1 ASCOLI PICENO (JPN) Yoichi Kuroiwa Joao Moreira 17 54.5kg 112
20 11x13x20x0 CORAZON BEAT (JPN) Shizuya Kato Tommy Berry 19 54.5kg 100

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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About The Author

Lucy Henderson

Lucy is an experienced horse racing journalist that has been a crucial member of the horseracing.com.au team for the better part of a decade. She has taken great delight in covering champion mares Black Caviar and Winx throughout their careers and always has a soft spot for a winning filly.