What the jockeys said: Golden Eagle Day 2024

Did the horse you backed perform above or below expectations at Rosehill on Saturday? This is where you find out what the jockey had to say after selected races.

Craig Williams celebrates winning the Russell Balding Stakes aboard Bella Nipotina at Rosehill on Saturday. Photo: Jeremy Ng/Getty Images.

The $10 million Golden Eagle headlined the Rosehill card on Saturday and here is what the jockeys had to say about their mounts’ performances in selected races on the program.

The jockey reviews for all the runners in each of Saturday’s main races are below.

Race 5 – Four Pillars Midway Benchmark 68 Handicap (1500m)

It's Kingston Charm's Four Pillars in a thriller, as @ZacLloydx rides a double!@JTRacingRwik | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/WYgVtEULhI

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024

1st – KINGSTON CHARM (Zac Lloyd (a)) She was fantastic. It was a good win by her. I came into today with a lot of confidence. The win and the feeling she gave me at Hawkesbury, I was very confident with the mare that I was on. I said to them pre-race, ‘they might be over-exaggerating this coming off the fence, and I think our best option will be just to keep it smooth and up the inside’. It’s good when a plan comes off.

2nd – PIRAEUS (Joao Moreira) He tried bloody hard. The way he races didn’t suit him because he had to come around them all. In the end of the day I’ve very pleased how he ran.

3rd – ROLLING MAGIC (Tommy Berry) He has come a long way in a short time. Great effort from an outside gate.

4th – ALABAMA STATE (Zac Wadick (a3)) He has done really well. You can’t hide it he was four wide throughout the trip. He is only a three-year-old who I think will only keep progressing throughout his career. He hasn’t won today but I feel like there are plenty of races in store for him in the future.

5th – HARLOW MIST (Nash Rawiller) Just needed every bit of that trip. Her last 50m was her best

6th – FUGITIVA (Dylan Gibbons) Courageous effort. Probably just didn’t need that rain and might have come to the end of it.

7th – DANISH PRINCE (Deanne Panya) He ran a nice race. Fought on well. Just runs like he wants further now.

8th – TREIZE (Molly Bourke (a2)) Very honest run from a wide gate. Did her best.

9th – PATRIKA MIST (Jason Collett) Honest but got tired late though.

10th – ARTFUL PERSUASION (Blake Spriggs) Just hated the wet track. Nice horse who will come back in well.

11th – TYMPANIST (Tom Sherry) Did well considering it was a three day back-up. He finished off well.

12th – APOLLO MISSION (Rory Hutchings) No luck from the gate.

13th – EXTREME FREEDOM (Tyler Schiller) He was OK. I thought his last 100m was his best bit. Probably looking for 1800 to 2000m now.

14th – WINNING POINT (Winona Costin) Really nice run. She is probably looking for the 2000m sooner rather than later.

15th – LIFE COACH (Reece Jones) Didn’t run the 1500m.

16th – VICTORY LANE (Benjamin Osmond (a3)) Too far back and never travelled.

17th – THIS IS THE MOMENT (Kerrin McEvoy) He will be suited by a bit further eventually.

18th – MISS CHECKONI (Jay Ford) She had a tough run from a wide gate.

19th – ARALE (Regan Bayliss) Disappointing.

20th – KHUMBILA (Chad Schofield) He didn’t finish it off today.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Race 7 – Russell Balding Stakes (1300m)

Bella Nipotina cruises past them in the Russell Balding Stakes - and she's now the second-highest stakes earner in Australian racing 🙌@cmaherracing | @CWilliamsJockey | @aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/GACAQXF2Oq

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024

1st – BELLA NIPOTINA (Craig Williams) I’ve got to thank Bella. She’s just an amazing horse and I’m just privileged for the ride. We realised that she doesn’t speed up to other horses. We realised that over a period of time she just decreases slower than the rest of them. So that’s why she’s like a fine wine. It’s not the fact that she’s speeding past them, it’s just that they’re stopping before she does. And she’s just got the tenacity to keep on going. It’s really exciting.

2nd – SUNSHINE IN PARIS (Tommy Berry) She went terrific. The barrier has probably put us a pair further back than we wanted to be. We saved a bit of ground around the corner, she was strong late but beaten by a very good horse obviously. She is going well.

3rd – LADY LAGUNA (Tyler Schiller) She is the ultimate professional. Gee she gave me a lovely ride, put herself right behind the speed, followed Bella Nipotina. Just a couple too good on the day. She is ultra consistent.

4th – MAZU (Nash Rawiller) We rode him quiet. He enjoyed the hot speed. He made a bit of ground. Showing a few signs he’s had enough. He’s had a good prep and next prep can win a good race.

5th – PRIVATE EYE (Jay Ford) We were able to capitalise today from his good barrier but he didn’t let down like I know he can. A little bit below his best.

6th – KING OF SPARTA (Joao Moreira) He didn’t travel on the bit. Was off the bit pretty much all the way through and failed to finish it off.

7th – FLYING CRAZY (Reece Jones) Hit the line strongly. Nice calibre horses in that race and he was respectable.

8th – PHEARSON (Tom Sherry) They were too sharp for him over that trip. He was OK late.

9th – I AM ME (Zac Lloyd (a)) She travelled fantastic. Just the rain throughout the day is definitely not to her liking. She didn’t let down as we know she can.

10th – ROCKETING BY (Kerrin McEvoy) Retiring.

11th – COAL CRUSHER (Chad Schofield) I ran along in front. But still got driven mad somehow.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Race 8 – Golden Eagle (1500m)

👏 @WilliamHaggas has done it again!

Lake Forest wins the $10 Million Golden Eagle with Cieren Fallon in the saddle!@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/Hr3IR1vG2x

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024

1st – LAKE FOREST (Cieren Fallon) Unbelievable. Wow, I can’t believe it. Lost for words. Everything went to Plan A. Tuck in, we knew we had a lot of speed and had to save his turn of foot. I thought if we used too much energy early on we’d have been taking away our turn of foot. So I had to ride him quite brave and hope we got a bit of luck. And we got a few gaps up there. Obviously Stefano helped me get a few gaps there and, you know, what a horse.

2nd – LAZZAT (Antonio Orani) Very good.

3rd – TOM KITTEN (Ben Melham) He had a great trip from a good draw. Presented to win the race. Just ran into a couple better on the day.

4th – MAKARENA (Tyler Schiller) Special run. I don’t know if she would have been suited drawing inside but inside 10 she is awfully hard to beat. She has been very gallant up the straight.

5th – STEFI MAGNETICA (Zac Lloyd (a)) She should have won.

6th – PORT LOCKROY (Adam Hyeronimus) Horse has gone extremely well. In all fairness he was very poorly weighted in this race. But to run as well as he did and get beaten that margin was fantastic.

7th – JOLIESTAR (Kerrin McEvoy) She ran a great race. Midfield and travelled well. Had to make my run on the outside as we turned for home. Just probably cost us getting into the race. She wasn’t beaten far and ran well.

8th – WAR MACHINE (Jay Ford) He ran a really good race. Found a nice spot travelled well but lacks the seasoning of others. Will improve as he gets older.

9th – SOUTHPORT TYCOON (Craig Williams) Nothing went right. Jumped out awkward and I lost my iron when making contact with the horse outside of me. Got that back but was back a lot further in the race. He needed more speed. Followed the eventual winner but just wasn’t effective on today’s ground.

10th – SKYBIRD (Beau Mertens) She ran exceptionally well. Just back from the gate as per usual there. I thought her last 200m was great. She really sprinted through the line strongly.

11th – ENCAP (Jason Collett) Flat out most of the way. Stuck on well.

12th – ASCOLI PICENO (Joao Moreira) She didn’t bring her very best.

13th – OSTRAKA (Chad Schofield) We had a good run. Travelled very well. Found the distance too far.

14th – KINTYRE (Reece Jones) Probably found it wanting late but had a good run. Got into a good spot.

15th – CRAIG (Nash Rawiller) He is a lovely horse. It’s a bit shifty now and never gained a lot of confidence in the run. Couldn’t travel to capitalise.

16th – GRIFF (Dylan Gibbons) Got into a lovely spot. We were just playing dodgem cars most of the way so forgive him.

17th – XIDAKI (Tom Sherry) Began OK and got into a decent position with some cover. Just failed to finish off as well as he did first up.

18th – CHRYSAOR (Regan Bayliss) He was honest.

19th – VEIGHT (Harry Coffey) He was disappointing. He didn’t bring his best today. It sort of has been the case the whole prep. Just not going as well as he can. Back to the drawing board and see where he is at.

20th – CORAZON BEAT (Tommy Berry) Track was too shifty for her in the end. They are used to running on firm tracks and unfortunately we didn’t have that.

■ ■ ■ ■ ■

Race 9 – Group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m)

A breathtaking finish in the Rosehill Gold Cup with Fawkner Park victorious with @G1TySchil on board for @ANeashamRacing! 🏆@aus_turf_clubpic.twitter.com/jgabNgZwBk

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 2, 2024

1st – FAWKNER PARK (Tyler Schiller) I tried to be a touch more positive on him. He’s not an overly blessed horse with gait speed but he did jump well today which surprised me. I thought he loved the ground. It’s just got a little bit of moisture in it but he seems to still love the firm base. And he’s just awfully tough. I put him into the race when I needed to. He’s run 2400m up in Queensland so no doubt why he couldn’t do it today.

2nd – WYCLIF (Jason Collett) He has run great dropping back in trip. Stiff at the top of the straight.

3rd – HINGED (Joao Moreira) She ran fantastic. Had a soft run on the fence. I was happy with her.

4th – STOCKMAN (Reece Jones) That was way better from the old boy. Put in a really good effort today.

5th – SAGANTI (Chad Schofield) He found the line well.

6th – MEDATSU (Kerrin McEvoy) I thought he ran well. He was up in class. He’s poked through and run a nice race.

7th – NONCONFORMIST (Harry Coffey) He has run well. He was game. I was probably a bit more forward than I anticipated but then between the 400 and the 600 when Fawkner Park took off, I just got held up and that cost me some momentum to finish closer.

8th – HOO YA MAL (Adam Hyeronimus) He’s a difficult horse. Took me half the race to get him to settle and find a rhythm. After that was nice. Just got off balance at the top of the straight which stopped him from finishing closer. I thought he ran well first up.

9th – STEEL BLAZE (Molly Bourke (a)) Really impressive run by him today. He is going to suit a bit more ground. Will keep staying all day.

10th – STAR OF INDIA (Tom Sherry) I thought there was a bit of merit in it. He didn’t have a lot of room. He stuck on OK.

11th – AKUA’RIUS (Jay Ford) Disappointing.

12th – BEAR ON THE LOOSE (Regan Bayliss) He was a touch disappointing today.

Originally published as