Flying Four-Year-Olds
Published: 30 Oct 2021
Fast and tough - The Queenslander Apache Chase can lead all the way in the Golden Eagle
The huge prizemoney on offer should make sure there is plenty of action in the Golden Eagle today at Rosehill Gardens, a race that brings high quality four-year-olds together from across Australia and beyond. Analyst Adrian Sciglitano has looked through the field of 18 to find a few horses to focus on with on-pacers APACHE CHASE and VANGELIC the two he favours most.
PRIVATE EYE
4yo Brown gelding | AL MAHER x CONFIDENTIAL QUEEN
Fresh off an emphatic victory in the Tab Epsom over 1,600 metres Private Eye will look to add the $7.5 million Golden Eagle to his mantelpiece when he lines up for trainer Joe Pride. The four-year old son of Al Maher has had the perfect lead up to the feature event not running a bad race this preparation, including a powerful finish last start which saw him claim the feature Randwick mile and his first Group 1. He has since been kept up to the mark with an eye-catching trial making good ground from the rear when never asked for an effort.
A solid and strong individual in the mounting yard who holds good condition deep into his preparation, I expect him to be shining in the parade again. Nash Rawiller has the skills to handle the wide barrier. The only thing left to check is the track pattern for a run-on horse.
I’M THUNDERSTRUCK
4yo Bay gelding | SHOCKING x PRIMADONNA GIRL (NZ)
Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) will saddle up current favourite and last start Group 1 winner I’m Thunderstruck in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle. The lightly raced galloper, with an imposing record of five wins from just eight starts has moved quickly through his grades and looks ready to run a peak in the feature. Having had his first start in a Group 1 only last month, the son of Shocking acquitted himself well in the Rupert Clarke stakes running on well from last to finish 3rd only beaten 0.6L. He atoned for that defeat last start with a strong effort over 1,600 metres in the Toorak Handicap defeating Stradbroke Handicap winner Tofane in the process which looks a solid form reference for a race like this.
A strapping athlete in the mounting yard, I’m Thunderstruck could be the future star in the field. The big question is how he will travel and handle the right-handed turn. Two questions I don’t have the answer for.
APACHE CHASE
4yo Bay gelding | BETTER THAN READY x SILKEN WHISPER (USA)
The Queenslander trained by Desleigh Forster arrives in Sydney in career best form having put back to back wins together this campaign, first-up in the Weetwood before a tough 1,400 metre victory last start at Eagle Farm. A more furnished product now to what we saw in Queensland during the winter months when running a gallant second in the Queensland Guineas behind raceday rival Private Eye, Apache Chase looks primed to run the race of his life in the Golden Eagle. A winner over 1,500 metres and a preferred dry track inevitable at Rosehill on Saturday, the four-year old gelding gets his chance to make a statement.
A well-balanced galloper in the mounting yard with a fluent action, Apache Chase looks ideally suited to the Rosehill conditions and will be very hard to run down.
MAXIMAL
4yo Bay horse | GALILEO (IRE) x JOYEUSE (GB)
The “x-factor” in this years Golden Eagle comes in the form of European import Maximal. The now John O’shea trained three-quarter brother to Frankel (GB) will make his Australian debut when he steps out in the $7.5 million feature. The lightly raced son of Galileo (GB) was last seen running second to QEII stakes winner Baaeed (GB) only beaten by four lengths, which is a good reference for the feature event. A hard horse to line up against the Australian form, but we can be sure that the Maximal will be strong at the end of 1,500 metres having placed over 2,076 metres, as well as run a strong mile.
Alysha Collett will take the ride from the wide barrier, which I think could be a bridge too far first-up in a testing race. He is a watch in the yard first-up in Australia nonetheless.
VANGELIC
4yo Bay mare | VANCOUVER x ANGEL BEE (NZ)
Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott will saddle up their four-year old mare Vangelic on the seven day back up when she contests the Golden Eagle. Coming off the back of a solid effort last week in The Invitation, the daughter of Vancouver looks suited getting back to the scene of her last win where she was able to lead all the way in the Golden Pendant. She can be forgiven for her failure in the Silver Eagle last start when copping a bad check on the turn, before being eased out of the race.
She maps to get back to her brilliant best here and the step up to 1,500 metres looks ideal. A good value chance each-way or for the place.
Click here for the Golden Eagle Race Guide.