Golden Eagle International

Bernard Kenny.

The Golden Eagle is upon us with Racing NSW Chairman Mr Russell Balding AO previously announcing that the Iron Jack sponsored “The Golden Eagle is the first feature race on the Australian Racing Calendar exclusively for 4yo horses.”

“We believe The Golden Eagle will be attractive in retaining our top 3yo’s to race on as 4yo’s and benefit the racing industry, underpinning the strength of racing in NSW and Australia more broadly.”

In not only carrying $7.5m in total prizemoney The Golden Eagle will have 10% of all prizemoney donated to a charity nominated by the connections of each runner. The winning owners nominated charity will receive $410,000 of the winners $4.1m purse.

As now in all major Australian racing events the presence of international horses makes for great racing, with the legendary Irish trainer Aiden O’Brien heading the international visitors with his Irish 2000 Guineas Trial winner Never No More.

To be ridden by French jockey Pierre-Charles Boudot, who this season has won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, French 2000 Guineas and French Oaks, Never No More will carry 56.5kg under the international set-weight standards and is at $26, jumping from barrier 7.

“I would imagine the fact he’s in gate seven he will go forward,” said foreman Andrew Murphy. “You get a good gate and you have to use it” he said of Never No More who was previously second in the Goodwood Park Stakes and fifth in the Secretariat Stakes at Arlington Park.

“He goes on any ground, he’s probably the ideal horse to bring here because no matter what the weather is, he’ll handle the ground,” Andrew said. “He’s ideal for what he’s here for.”

Owned by Coolmore’s Susan Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith, Never No More races in the famous blue and orange silks of Michael Tabor, and was a €300,000 yearling at the Goffs 2017 Orby Sale from Glenvale Stud.

By the highly sought-after international sire No Nay Never who shuttles to Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley, Never No More is the fourth foal of placed Catcher in The Rye mare Law of The Jungle.

The family of multiple US Group 1 winner Winchester and Star of Seville, the Prix de Diane winner, his granddam also produced the duel Group 3 winner Eastern Appeal and the dam of European stakes horses La Hernanda and La Sabana.

Priced at $61 is Britain’s Richard Hannon trained Beat Le Bon who has won 4 of his 7 starts up to 1600m this season at and is coming off a good 2¼ length fifth in the Celebration Mile at Goodwood.

“He’s a horse on the improve and that’s why it’s worth a shot coming here,” said foreman Wayne Kavanagh. “He doesn’t do a lot of fast work at home so we will keep a lid on him.”

Beat Le Bon has drawn barrier 15 of the 17 starters, and, as with all runners, will have a good run along the back stretch before reaching the first turn. Again, he will be ridden by his British and UAE based jockey Pat Dobbs and is weighted on 56.5kg.

The French bred Beat Le Bon was a €100,000 purchased by Peter and Ross Doyle Bloodstock at the 2017 Arqana August Yearling Sale and races in the dark green and silver diablo colours of Sullivan Bloodstock and Merriebelle Irish Farm.

A full-brother to the French winning Gr3 placed Wooded, by the Champion French 2yo Sire and Grand Criterium winner Wotton Bassett, and is the family of duel Gr3 winning and placed Prix de l’Abbaye de Longchamp winner and sire Magic Ring.

Beat Le Baron is from the placed Elusive City mare Frida Le Blonde, who is a full-sister to the stakes winners Fred Lalloupet and half-sister to stakes winner Mon Pote Le Gitan and to the dam of stakes winner Maximum Aurelius.
Also flying the flag for Ireland is I Am Superman who is definitely over looked at $81 as he is coming off a good third in Desmond Stakes having won three times this season at 1400m and 1600m.

Trained by Michael O’Callaghan at Kildare, he will be ridden by regular jockey Leigh Roche wearing the navy blue and red silk colours, and will start from barrier 14 also carrying 56.5kg.

Sired by the 2000 Guineas winner Footstepsinthesand, I Am Superman was a €20,000 purchase by Danesrath Stables at the Goffs 2016 November Foal Sale, and is from the unraced Fastnet Lady, by Fastnet Rock who shuttles to Coolmore in Ireland.

This is the family Epsom Oaks winner Shahtoush whose Gr3 winning sister Game Plan is dam of the Prix Eugene Adam winner Sobieski and stakes winner Strategic.
…….the Eagle has landed in delivering a new dawn in Racing, so get your act back on track at Rosehill Gardens

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