A field of 20 runners plus four emergencies have accepted for the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on Saturday.
In a gallop at Canterbury on Tuesday morning, Jamie Spencer hopped aboard $4.50 favourite Light Infantry and was comfortably pleased that the three-year-old colt has lost none of his character since arriving in Sydney.
With two wins and as many placings in five starts, Light Infantry brings with him form of two last start placings in French top-line contests, the latest a second placing in the Group 1 Prix Jacques le Marois (1600m) behind prior Group 1 Coronation Stakes (1400m) winner Inspiral.
“He’s an active horse, a high class horse and he always gives you a good feel,” Spencer told Racing NSW.
“He’s really stepped up at his last two runs. He ran very well in the (Prix) Jean Prat over 1400 metres and then stepped up again in Prix Jacque de Marois and was just beaten by the vest filly in Europe.
“The third horse (Erevann) came out and won at the Arc meeting so the form has stood up well.”
In the care of Ciaron Maher since arriving in Australia, Light Infantry has impressed.
“I’ve travelled a lot of horses out here to Sydney and Melbourne over the last five years and I would say that this horse has travelled better than all of them, “Maher said after trackwork.
“They can lose somewhere between five and 25 kilos – normally towards the higher part on a long flight like that.
“He only lost ten (kilos) and he put that back on within a couple of days.
“He’s bright and well and we’re pretty happy with where he’s at.
Though the barrier draw takes place on Tuesday night, Light Infantry holds favouritism with just two other runners in single figures with the Peter Moody-trained pair I Wish I Win on the second line at $7 and Chain Of Lightning at $9.
“At his last run he went to another level,” Maher adds.
“He’s shown glimpses of that but last start it was a star-studded field and was beaten by probably the best filly in Europe.”
Pre-draw, Spencer’s take also focuses on Light Infantry’s class factor.
“We just need the luck now,” he added.
“The form says that. All we’re asking for is a nice smooth race.”