Golden Eagle 2024 preview, form & betting strategy | November 2

The sixth renewal of the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) headlines the action at Rosehill on Saturday afternoon, with a capacity field of 20 set to do battle in the four-year-old feature.

After tasting success last year with Obamburumai, the Japanese have sent two live chances down under, including long-standing favourite Ascoli Piceno who has been on the drift since copping a horror draw in barrier 17.

Throw in two more European raiders amongst the list of 16 local hopes and we’re left with a mouthwatering clash in what’s sure to be one of the highlights of the spring.

Will the Japanese prove too classy once again? Or is there an upset brewing in the 2024 Golden Eagle.

2024 Golden Eagle odds

The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar has been installed as the $5.00 favourite with horse racing bookmakers after drawing barrier 11 on Tuesday evening and continues to firm on the back of her eye-catching performance in the Everest (1200m) on October 19. Ascoli Piceno has eased to $5.50 on the second line of betting, while undefeated French galloper Lazzat rounds out those at single figures at the $6.50 quote. The likes of Tom Kitten ($10.00) and Stefi Magnetica ($10.00) have garnered some early support, while Southport Tycoon ($12.00) is the big drifter after drawing gate 15.

2024 Golden Eagle speed map

There appears to be a lack of genuine early speed in the 2024 Golden Eagle, however, the Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald-trained Ostraka made every post a winner in the Group 3 Silver Eagle (1300m). Expect him to go forward alongside Lazzat, with the pair leading out of a moderate tempo. Tom Kitten can be positive from stall two, with Encap (1), Kintyre (3) and War Machine (7) to be ridden handy towards the speed. Jolistar (11), Port Lockroy (9) and Craig (5) will make up the mid-field cohort, while the likes of Ascoli Piceno (17), Skybird (16) and Southport Tycoon (15) will have no choice but to drag back towards the rear of the field in search of cover.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s top selections and $100 betting strategy for the 2024 Golden Eagle.

Golden Eagle 2024 preview & form

The Yoichi Kuroiwa-trained Ascoli Piceno is every bit as good as Obamburumai and must be considered the one to beat in this year’s Golden Eagle. The daughter of Daiwa Major has never missed the frame in her six-career starts, including a sensational victory in the Keisei Hai Autumn (1600m) at Nakayama on September 8 before heading to Australia. The poor barrier means punters are getting a fair price to find out, and with the ‘Magic Man’ Joao Moreira in the saddle, trust Ascoli Piceno can get the right run in transit to claim the 2024 Golden Eagle.

It’s hard to place the Jerome Reynier-trained Lazzat, however, the son of Territories is undefeated for a reason. He’s strong on all conditions and has a favourable pattern to be up on speed in his races. He’s a Group 1 winner in France and could easy prove too classy for this lot. For that reason, punters should be willing to keep him safe.

Tom Kitten appears the best of the local hopes in this race after storming through the wire behind the likes of Ceolwulf and Pride Of Jenni in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 19. He made a good account of himself in weight-for-age company and looks well-placed back to his own age group. Gate two should allow Ben Melham to get the gun run throughout, and if he’s good enough, Tom Kitten should figure in this.

Craig will be attempting to replicate the likes of I’m Thunderstruck (2021) and I Wish I Win (2022) as the only galloper coming through the Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m). He was no match for Antino on that occasion, but was one of the best of the beaten brigade to suggest he can make some noise in this at a big each-way price.

Golden Eagle 2024 selections & best bets

• 19
  

  ASCOLI PICENO

• 12
  

  LAZZAT

• 3
  

  TOM KITTEN

• 13
  

  CRAIG

Golden Eagle 2024 final field

No.	Silks	Horse	Trainer	Jockey	Barrier	Weight
1		Southport Tycoon	Ciaron Maher	Craig Williams	15	57.5kg
2		Veight	Tony & Calvin McEvoy	Harry Coffey	18	57.5kg
3		Tom Kitten	James Cummings	Ben Melham	2	57.5kg
4		Ostraka	Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald	Chad Schofield	13	57.5kg
5		Griff	Ciaron Maher	Dylan Gibbons	6	57.5kg
6		Encap	Gary Portelli	Jason Collett	1	57.5kg
7		Xidaki	Peter Snowden	Tom Sherry	10	57.5kg
8		Chrysaor	Chris Waller	Regan Bayliss	14	57.5kg
9		Kintyre	Gary Portelli	Reece Jones	3	57.5kg
10		War Machine	Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson	Jay Ford	7	57.5kg
11		Port Lockroy	Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald	Adam Hyeronimus	9	57.5kg
12		Lazzat	Jerome Reynier	Antonio Orani	12	56.5kg
13		Craig	Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young	Nash Rawiller	5	56.5kg
14		Lake Forest	William Haggas	Cieren Fallon	8	56.5kg
15		Stefi Magnetica	Bjorn Baker	Zac Lloyd	4	55.5kg
16		Joliestar	Chris Waller	Kerrin McEvoy	11	55.5kg
17		Makarena	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes	Tyler Schiller	20	55.5kg
18		Skybird	Mitchell Freedman	Beau Mertens	16	55.5kg
19		Ascoli Piceno	Yoichi Kuroiwa	Joao Moreira	17	54.5kg
20		Corazon Beat	Shizuya Kato	Tommy Berry	19	54.5kg

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