The seventh edition of the $10 million The Golden Eagle (1500m) takes centre stage at Royal Randwick this Saturday, with the prestigious race for four-year-olds now moving to Sydney’s headquarters.

Epsom Handicap winner Autumn Glow is short favourite to remain undefeated with a Golden Eagle 2025 win this weekend. Photo: Bradley Photos.

The colossal prize pool on the same day as Melbourne Cup Carnival’s Victoria Derby Day has drawn a class line-up of gun gallopers, but all eyes are fixed on the unbeaten favourite.

Waller’s Star Mare Set for Glory

Chris Waller‘s undefeated Epsom Handicap winner Autumn Glow heads betting on the final The Golden Eagle 2025 field.

The boom mare, an outstanding daughter of The Autumn Sun, is currently the clear top elect at $2.20 through Ladbrokes and looks set to hand the stable its second win in the race following the success of inaugural champion Kolding in 2019.

Autumn Glow has been a revelation this season, maintaining a perfect seven-from-seven record.

She arrives fresh off an Epsom demolition job at Randwick and is now set to scorch the turf in the richest race for four-year-olds.

Like Kolding, Autumn Glow chases the coveted Epsom Handicap – Golden Eagle double after overcoming barrier 12 of 12 to claim the famous mile showdown on October 4 by 1.44 lengths.

The mare’s chances are further bolstered by the presence of master hoop James McDonald.

Fresh off his historic fourth straight Ladbrokes Cox Plate victory, J-Mac reunites with the favourite, having partnered her for three wins so far, including her impressive Group 3 Toy Show Quality victory on a Heavy (10) back in August.

McDonald’s decision to ride in Sydney over a shot at the Melbourne Group 1 races speaks volumes for his opinion of the mare and the punters are confident she can join Colette (2020) as the only Golden Eagle winning mares.

Waller also saddles the outsider Lord Penman ($51), who gets the services of the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira from wider out in gate 16.

International & Local Threats Loom

While Autumn Glow is the clear top elect, two other runners are currently under double figures in Golden Eagle betting, drawn side-by-side in gates four and five: Japan’s Panja Tower and local star Linebacker, both at $6.00.

Panja Tower is trained by Shinsuke Hashiguchi and is out to become the second Japanese trained Golden Eagle winner following the 2023 victory by Obamburumai.

The Tower Of London entire is being kept safe in the markets for his Australian race debut, boasting a solid record of four wins from six starts back home.

This includes an excellent Group 1 win over the mile at Tokyo at 25/1 in May, followed by a Group 3 win in August over six furlongs.

Drawn to get a dream run from barrier four, his chances are further boosted by regular jockey Kohei Matsuyama travelling for the ride.

Linebacker meanwhile comes off an impressive Silver Eagle win with the in-form John O’Shea & Tom Charlton trained Super Seth gelding putting 2.63 lengths on the next best that day while giving weight away with 58.5kg from barrier 12 of 13.

The flying Zac Lloyd retains the ride for his Grand Final, and Linebacker looks well positioned to give Autumn Glow a run for her money back at set weights.

Crucially, he ticks the class box, having secured a Group 1 win as a three-year-old in the autumn with the Randwick Guineas.

Next Best and Other Contenders

Evaporate at Golden Eagle odds of $11 is the next best fancied to upstage the heavily supported favourite.

The Ben, Will & JD Hayes trained son of Per Incanto jumps from barrier 7 with Nash Rawiller aboard.

He brings strong form lines from Melbourne, having won the Group 3 Sandown Stakes first-up before running a very close second in the Group 1 Toorak Handicap—a race won by Transatlantic, whom he beat previously.

Evaporate has also proven his affinity for Randwick with a powerhouse Group 3 Carbine Club Stakes win back in April.

Rounding out the shortest-priced Golden Eagle contenders are the rails-drawn Perfumist for Bjorn Baker, the recent Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke champion Sepals who is out to atone for a troubled 10th in the Toorak with excuses, and the now Ciaron Maher trained reigning NZ Derby winner Willydoit.

2025 Golden Eagle Field & Barrier Draw

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

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