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2024 Golden Eagle runner-by-runner form assessments and selections

Racenet’s Clinton Payne presents his tips and form assessment for each of the 20 runners in Saturday’s $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill.

Clinton Payne
5 min read
October 30, 2024 - 7:30AM
Tips to find The 2024 Golden Eagle Winner!

The $10 million Golden Eagle has drawn together a top class line up of four-year-olds, both local and international.

There was a field of 20 runners declared for the 1500m contest. Here is a runner-by-runner analysis of every horse set to line up on Saturday.

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1 – SOUTHPORT TYCOON

Lands here having the fourth run of the campaign. Blinkers went on two starts back, he won the Manikato Stakes over 1200m then remained at that trip last time and was doing his best work late in the Sydney Stakes. Is a Group 1 winner at a mile. Barrier 15 is tricky.

VERDICT: Proven Group 1 performer that can figure with luck from the draw.

2 – VEIGHT

Third-up in this. Got too far back in the Silver Eagle and was never a factor but he did rip home in just outside the best last 200m of the race. Won the Group 1 George Ryder his only start this track and distance and that is a good horse’s race. Barrier 18 makes things difficult.

VERDICT: Going to more than his share of luck from the draw.

3 – TOM KITTEN

Hasn’t had a lot of luck from bad barriers of late but has caught the eye getting home strongly in his last two starts over a mile in the Epsom and the King Charles where only Ceolwulf has run better closing splits.

VERDICT: Has never gone better and is one of the leading hopes.

4 – OSTRAKA

Has come back from Brisbane in the winter and gone to a new level. Shooting for four wins on the bounce, the latest in the Silver Eagle here over 1300m two weeks ago when he dictated terms from in front. 1500m is new territory but has won over 1400m.

VERDICT: Racing as well as he can and not without place claims.

5 – GRIFF

The formguide says he hasn’t fired a shot since winning the Caulfield Guineas just over 12 months ago but his latest effort behind Jimmysstar at Caulfield over 1400m was much better than it reads. Found dead ends galore with plenty to offer. Has a Racing And Sports rating of 116.

VERDICT: Have to oppose him off his form this year.

6 – ENCAP

Consistent galloper that rarely doesn’t give you a run for your money. Going super this prep and comes into this off a Theo Marks win over 1300m before a good closing fourth in the Alan Brown last start over 1400m where his last 200m was his best.

VERDICT: Drawn to get his chance and not without each-way prospects.

7 – XIDAKI

Campaigned in Queensland during the winter where he won the Winx Guineas over a mile. Returned to racing with a solid second in the Silver Eagle. Strips fitter from the first-up outing and suited stepping up to 1500m.

VERDICT: This is much harder again and too rich for him.

8 – CHRYSAOR

Can mix his form but when things go his way in races he can be pulverising. Produced an awesome finishing burst to win the Tontonan Stakes over 1400m at Flemington first-up then returned to Sydney and was never a factory in the Epsom.

VERDICT: Can be a bit of a Jekyll or Hyde performer but this is beyond him.

9 – KINTYRE

Consistent performer and his last win came in the Queensland Guineas during the winter. Had four runs this prep and while he hasn’t won, he has performed solidly in some strong races including the Tramway and Bill Ritchie.

VERDICT: He’ll get all favours from the draw and runs as well as he can.

10 – WAR MACHINE

Victorian galloper that won three on the bounce at the back end of his autumn campaign. First-up at The Valley he chased home exciting sprinter Baraqiel over 1200m then finished third, beaten less than a length, in the Silver Eagle.

VERDICT: One for the First 4 players to include at odds.

11 – PORT LOCKROY

He’s building to a peak performance on Saturday. Closed off hard when it was all over first-up behind Ostraka before producing the third best last 600 and 200m splits in the Silver Eagle. Has won at the mile.

VERDICT: One of the better roughies in the race.

12 – LAZZAT

Serious French gelding that possesses an impressive unbeaten six start record with three of his wins coming over this trip. Won the Group 1 Prix Maurice de Gheest over 1300m most recently in slick time when trouncing them. Can race near the speed and if he was a colt, he wouldn’t be here.

VERDICT: His record and rating says you have to respect him.

13 – CRAIG

Imported galloper that hasn’t done much wrong since arriving in Australia. Impressive winning over 1400m three starts back then two second placed effort have followed over 1500m and 1600m finishing hard in both, the Toorak most recently.

VERDICT: Racing really well and gets his chance from a great draw.

14 – LAKE FOREST

UK galloper trained by a master conditioner William Haggas who has an unrivalled 45 per cent winning strike rate in Australia from 22 runners. All his form is at 1200m and he gives the impression he wants more ground.

VERDICT: Trainer’s runners always command respect.

15 – STEFI MAGNETICA

Resumed from a spell with a spring finishing second in The Shorts before contesting The Everest and while never a winning factor, she wasn’t disgraced, producing the fifth best last 200m split of the race. Did power to the line winning the Stradbroke over 1400m during the winter.

VERDICT: Drawn to get her chance and capable of bouncing back.

16 – JOLIESTAR

Was awesome winning first-up against the boys in the Show County, then came up short but found the line in the Sheraco before closing off better than anything in The Everest when beaten 1-3/4 lengths. Is a Group 1 winner at the mile.

VERDICT: One of the lead local chances.

17 – MAKARENA

Arrives here fifth-up and hasn’t run a poor race this preparation. Has run in all the A-grade mares races, the Sheraco, Golden Pendant and most recently last Saturday when third in The Invitation over 1400m. Barrier 20 harmed her chances.

VERDICT: Going great but the barrier draw made it too hard.

18 – SKYBIRD

Victorian mare that burst on the scene during her three-year-old season. Her first two runs this prep had merit in the Bobbie Lewis and Rose Of Kingston Stakes, both at Flemington but most recently she had no excuses when down the track over 1400m in the Tristarc. No favours in the barrier draw.

VERDICT: Not going well enough for this.

19 – ASCOLI PICENO

She’s better than her current rating and those in the know rate her up to a couple of lengths superior to last year’s Japanese Golden Eagle winner Obamburumai. This year has placed twice at Grade 1 level over a mile and won a Grade 3 over the same distance. Her chances took a hit when drawing barrier 17.

VERDICT: With luck in running she can still be in the mix.

20 – CORAZON BEAT

Hasn’t fired in her past two starts but at the back end of her juvenile season she was third, beaten 1-1/2 lengths, behind Ascoli Piceno in the Grade 1 Hanshin Juvenile Fillies over 1600m. Barrier draw did her no favours.

VERDICT: The task is too great for her.

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CLINTON PAYNE’S GOLDEN EAGLE TIPS
1st – TOM KITTEN (No. 3)
2nd – LAZZAT (No. 12)
3rd – ASCOLI PICENO (No. 19)
4th – JOLIESTAR (No. 16)

Originally published as 2024 Golden Eagle runner-by-runner form assessments and selections

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Original URL: https://www.thechronicle.com.au/sport/horse-racing/2024-golden-eagle-runnerbyrunner-form-assessments-and-selections/news-story/d2bed8ce0282bd8db00d34376d315365