Amelia’s Jewel draws perfect barrier in Golden Eagle

Amelia’s Jewel has drawn barrier five for the 2023 Golden Eagle. (Photo by George Sal/Racing Photos)

A capacity field of 20 four-year-olds will compete for the $20 million on the line in the 2023 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Race favourite Amelia’s Jewel has drawn perfectly in barrier five in Saturday afternoon’s feature event in Sydney.

The Simon Miller-trained mare will be looking to bounce back from her worst performance of her career, where she finished ninth in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) at Caulfield on October 14.

Damian Lane will continue his association with the superstar from Western Australia in what will be Amelia’s Jewel’s first run in Sydney.

Following the barrier draw, horse racing betting sites took no risks and tightened her in to a +300 favourite.

Having competed in The Everest (1200m), the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Hawaii Five Oh (+400) will jump from barrier four on Saturday.

The son of I Am Invincible finished midfield in The Everest and will be ridden by the returning Nash Rawiller from barrier four.

Chris Waller’s Kovalica (+700) copped a horror draw (16), in his attempt to claim victory for the first time since the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) in May.

Kovalica went down by a nose in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), before finishing fifth, beaten 4.48 lengths behind Fangirl in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m).

Following an arrogant win in the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m), Kiwi mare Legarto (+700) is back on Australian shores for the first time since her win in the Group 1 Australian Guineas (1600m).

Japan will be represented by Obamburumai (+1000), with the Japanense runner set to be partnered by Joshua Parr, following the withdrawal of star jockey Yutaka Take.

Obamburumai will jump from barrier 2 on Saturday.

Saturday’s Golden Eagle will be the fifth rendition of the race, first won in 2019 by Kolding for trainer Chris Waller and jockey Glen Boss.

2023 Golden Eagle Final Field

No.	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1	Hawaii Five Oh	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Nash Rawiller	4	57.5kg
2	Attrition	Mitchell Freedman	Beau Mertens	19	57.5kg
3	Pericles	James Cummings	Ben Melham	1	57.5kg
4	Golden Mile	James Cummings	Zac Lloyd	18	57.5kg
5	Kovalica	Chris Waller	Tommy Berry	16	57.5kg
6	Rediener	Chris Waller	Kathy O’Hara	3	57.5kg
7	Osipenko	Chris Waller	Jason Collett	8	57.5kg
8	Strait Acer	Edward Cummings	Tyler Schiller	7	57.5kg
9	Communist	Michael Freedman	Koby Jennings	12	57.5kg
10	Coin Toss	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Brett Prebble	17	57.5kg
11	Knight’s Choice	John Symons & Sheila Laxon	Jaden Lloyd	10	57.5kg
12	Obamburumai	Keiji Yoshimura	Joshua Parr	2	56.5kg
13	New Endeavour	Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott	Adam Hyeronimus	13	56.5kg
14	Age Of Kings	Chris Waller	Craig Williams	11	56.5kg
15	Galeron	Charles Hills	Regan Bayliss	14	56.5kg
16	Amelia’s Jewel	Simon Miller	Damian Lane	5	55.5kg
17	Ruthless Dame	Ciaron Maher & David Eustace	Sam Clipperton	20	55.5kg
18	Legarto	Ken & Bev Kelso	Michael Dee	6	55.5kg
19	Vienna Princess	Chris Waller	Kerrin McEvoy	9	55.5kg
20	Razeta	Kris Lees	Dylan Gibbons	15	55.5kg