The feature race at Rosehill this Saturday is the Golden Eagle (1500m) with a field of 20 assembled, littered with high class quality.
Down below is a speed map, runner preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Golden Eagle.
2024 Golden Eagle Speed Map
Field of 20 but it’s hard to see a natural leader. The French mare Lazzat likes to be on speed so I think she comes across and will bring with her Ostraka, Veight and Makarena. War Machine and Griff are drawn well and will look to hold forward spots.
2024 Golden Eagle Runner Preview:
1. Southport Tycoon: Race shape was against him in the Sydney Stakes but he closed off well behind Overpass. The gate should see him get decent three wide cover, a drag into the race and his best is clearly good enough to take this out.
2. Veight: Ridden like a barrier trial in what turned out to be a barrier trial, the Silver Eagle. The gate is awful again for him, but if they chance the arm and go forward, he did win the George Ryder as a 3YO at the track/distance so he does have the class to win.
3. Tom Kitten: Gee he was good late in the King Charles. Just got dragged back from the gate but his finale was quite good in defeat. Has a gate to settle much closer in the run and I dare say he will be strong at the end of 1500m. Definite winning chance.
4. Ostraka: He has been kissed on the date in all three starts/wins this time in but this looks harder. Can’t entertain him.
5. Griff: Luckless at Caulfield last time but he hasn’t done anything since the Caulfield Guineas last year. Not for me.
6. Encap: He’s flying for Gary Portelli…just not sure he’s quite good enough to measure up against the best of the best here.
7. Xidaki: Blessed in the run in the Silver Eagle and took advantage. That won’t be the case here so keen to let him go through to the keeper.
8. Chrysaor: Ripping win first up but second up, he was a flop. Not good enough.
9. Kintyre: Had every chance last Saturday in a weak race and battled. Making up the numbers.
10. War Machine: One of a few from the Silver Eagle that was blessed in the run and took advantage. Much harder race here. Talented, but don’t think he’s up to these.
11. Port Lockroy: He does look slight overs vs others from the Silver Eagle given he was back in a barrier trial and held up at times, proving good late. Good speed in front, Hippo on, he’s in with a shout at $101+.
12. Lazzat: Lazzat is an unbeaten French mare and would be a clear top seed if Ascoli Piceno wasn’t here. Her record is incredible and her last start Group l win was arrogant. Sat on speed and once clicked up, she went through her gears and was very strong to the line in winning. She’ll acquit herself very well and give her all.
13. Craig: He has done little wrong for Busuttin/Young and I thought did more than enough in the Toorak behind star winner Antino. Needed to keep progressing to get into the race and he has. I say he commands respect.
14. Lake Forest: William Haggas rarely gets it wrong when he comes to Sydney with a good horse. He is a good horse this guy, but he’s not a 1500m horse, at least from what I have seen replays. Keen to oppose him.
15. Stefi Magnetica: Stefi Magnetica is crying out for 1500m. She ran very well I thought in The Everest. The race shape was clearly against her, especially when they dashed, but she picked up and was very good late in the piece. The rise in trip and more genuine tempo looks a great set up and she is hard fit now.
16. Joliestar: She does seem a filly that reacts to slow tempos so I thought she was flattered in The Everest even though to the eye, she was enormous. I am saying the jury is out on her as to whether she’s actually top class. For mine, I can’t believe she’s the price she is.
17. Makarena: Poor ride cost her the win IMO last Saturday but she’s not up to these.
18. Skybird: Very much
19. Ascoli Piceno: Ascoli Piceno is rated by some, both locally here and in Japan, as the best miler in Japan. If indeed that is the case, then it’s no betting here. She should be odds. We saw what they did last year with Obamburumai and he wasn’t that highly touted compared to this girl, who has an incredible record and her most recent win at Nakayama, her change up speed…it was stunning. She’s here to get our cash and if she has settled into Canterbury and is all good, then she wins and wins well.
20. Corazon Beat: Had clear excuses behind Ascoli Piceno at Nakayama so from that perspective, the price gap between her and the favourite is too great IMO but that said, she does need to improve.
2024 Golden Eagle $100 Betting Strategy:
I am hot on the Japanese star Ascoli Piceno. $100 Win Best Of The Best via Topsport.
Group l Strategy Outlay: $1800
Group l Strategy Return: $865
2024 Golden Eagle Odds:
