Golden Eagle form guide: Verdict on all 17 runners... with $31 hope who may spoil superstar’s party

The Golden Eagle is the second-richest race in the country behind The Everest, with the best four-year-olds in Australia to compete for a whopping $10 million.

Now, there is additional prestige for all involved, with this year's edition marking the first time it's been run as a Group 1 race.

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For the second year in a row, it'll be held at Randwick racecourse in Sydney's eastern suburbs.

Superstar Sheza Alibi is the hot favourite for the event and given her popularity and the fact she's dropping back to her own age group, she'll be a popular elect among punters.

The race will be run over 1500m and it's age-restricted to four-year-olds only, meaning horses can only contest the race once in their career.

Racing NSW administrators created the Golden Eagle to add some much-needed punch to their spring schedule. It's certainly done that, with the race increasing in popularity year on year.

Held on the same day as Melbourne's famed Derby Day, the addition of the Golden Eagle has made an already mouth-watering day of racing that much better.

WHEN IS IT?

Saturday, November 31

WHERE IS IT?

Randwick Racecourse, Sydney

WHERE TO WATCH

All the action from Royal Randwick will be live on Channel 7 and Sky Racing.

WHAT'S IT WORTH?

$10 million prize pool

1st - $5,250,000

2md - $2,000,000

3rd - $1,000,000

4th - $500,000

5th - $250,000

6th - $175,000

7th - $120,000

8th - $120,000

9th - $100,000

10th - $75,000

UNDERCARD

Other feature races on the program include The Russell Balding Stakes over 1300m worth $3 million, the $500,000 Four Pillars and the Group 3 Rosehill Gold Cup ($750,000).

GOLDEN EAGLE FIELD (all odds via Sportsbet as of Thurs 10am)

1. BEIWACHT (Chris Waller - Nash Rawiller)

Barrier: 9

Odds: $7/$1.90

Boasts outstanding formlines this preparation, easily taking out a Group 1 Memsie Stakes (1400m) two months ago with subsequent Cox Plate winner Cox Plate Cosmic Crusader back in third. That's obviously excellent form for a race against his own age. Fit horse but given his on pace racing style, he may be caught undone as there's no shortage of early speed. Wouldn't surprise at all if he won but I'm willing to leave him out.

Verdict - Place hope.

2. SKYHOOK (Gerald Ryan/Sterling Alexiou - Chad Schofield)

Barrier: 14

Odds: $12/$2.80

A six-time winner from 16 starts who seemingly had every chance when running second in the Silver Eagle last start - a key lead up race. Everest winning jockey Chad Schofield takes the ride from usual jockey Kerrin McEvoy, who is suspended. However, this is a very tractable horse who is a straightforward ride. The one negative is the wide gate. He'll need a fair bit of luck from barrier 16.

Verdict - Place hope.

3. AUTUMN BOY (Chris Waller - Zac Purton)

Barrier: 4

Odds: $9/$2.25

The Cox Plate was originally on the agenda following a luckless run in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap here last start, but the stable changed tact. The son of The Autumn Sun now presents here off a freshen up so he's a main threat. He shapes as the leading danger to warm favourite Sheza Alibi, but he'll need to make up a couple of lengths after running second to her in the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes at Flemington last month. With a genuine tempo expected, he'll sit midfield and should be given every chance to finish off strongly.

Verdict - Winning chance.

4. REGAL AWARD (Phillip Stokes - Lachlan Neindorf)

Barrier: 3

Odds: $31/$5.25

Defeated Skyhook in a stakes race during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and his run this spring in the Group 1 Rupert Clarke Stakes says he has a top three case in a race like this. He was underwhelming last start when sitting on a hot speed but he's a better horse than that. Maps to lead this from the good gate but he could cop a bit of pressure in front.

Verdict - Others preferred.

5. ATTICA (Joe Pride - Regan Bayliss)

Barrier: 6

Odds: $34/$5.75

His two runs back from a spell have been solid enough and he's building nicely. Finished around midfield in a Group 1 Epsom Hcp before just out of the placings in the Silver Eagle a fortnight ago. He looked gone last start but stuck on gamely after being passed by the winner to only finish just over 1.5 lengths away. Another horse who possesses the early speed to settle near the front, but don't be surprised if we see him settle a little further back than usual. The rise in trip suits and he is a two-time winner around this Randwick circuit. Knockout hope at big odds.

Verdict - Each way chance.

6. BRAVE MONARCH (Chris and Corey Munce - Martin Harley)

Barrier: 7

Odds: $81/$11

Talented horse has some good wins on the CV up in Brisbane as a three-year-old. He has come back in decent touch with his most recent run a midfield finish in the Silver Eagle. Solid run but he'll need to be improving sharply if he's to turn the table on those horses and serve it up to the very best four-year-olds in the country.

Verdict - Others preferred.

7. DECORUM (Michael Freedman - Tim Clark)

Barrier: 12

Odds: $27/$4.75

Lightly raced gelding who has been a winning machine so far. He's saluted five times from eight starts, with wins over Unleeshing and Cross Tasman first and second up this prep. Those two horses have franked the form since, in particular Unleeshing, who collected a Group 3 win at her most recent start. Decorum's Silver Eagle effort was pleasing and he's a horse who probably wins a Group 1 in the future, but this is a different kettle of fish to what he's faced before.

Verdict - Place hope.

8. MR MILLER (Chris Waller - Zac Lloyd)

Barrier: 8

Odds: $27/$4.75

A gelding on the rise who progressed beautifully this preparation. He started off in a benchmark 72 at Warwick Farm first up and won that. Three starts later, he was near the top of the market in a Group 1 Epsom and ran a super race. While that's terrific form for this, he did only carry 50.5kg that day and now has to lug 57.5kg for this. Provides a bit of X-factor as there's a genuine unknown how high his ceiling is. The recent trial was pleasing too. Just outside my top four.

Verdict - Each way hope.

9. RIVELLINO (Kris Lees - Dylan Gibbons)

Barrier: 10

Odds: $91/$13

Made some late ground first up after settling dead last. He races well at this track and some of his form in premier 3YO races was sound but he isn't consistent enough and it's likely he'll need another run at least before showing his best.

Verdict - Others preferred.

10. ESTREMO (Chris Waller - Sam Clipperton)

Barrier: 15

Odds: $101/$15

Fitter third up after a couple of solid efforts to begin the prep but this is a considerable rise in class and he has to contend with a horror barrier. With that said, he'd probably be settling towards the rear anyway. If there's a hot speed, he's an outside chance of running top five but he deserves to be big odds.

Verdict - Minor place hope.

11. PLATINUM PANTHEON (Lisa Latta - Andrew Adkins)

Barrier: 1

Odds: $91/$13

NZ-trained gelding who recorded five straight runner up finishes before a plain effort in the Silver Eagle last start. He was back in the field and started to run on early in the straight before peaking and tiring late. He maps for a much softer run in transit in this race but he looks to be a few lengths off the leading contenders.

Verdict - Others preferred.

12. BARRENGARRY

Scratched

13. FEDERALIST

Scratched.

14. NIGHT AGENT (Kris Lees - Tom Sherry)

Barrier: 11

Odds: $91/$13

Defeated the smart Unleeshing six weeks ago which is a strong form reference but he didn't threaten in the Silver Eagle next start. His best form has been when he's been up on the pace but given the slightly awkward draw and the hot tempo engaged, the speed map suggest he won't have this run to suit. Nice horse but I prefer him in something a bit easier.

Verdict - Others preferred.

15. AMAZING JOURNEY (Ciaron Maher - Saffie Osborne)

Barrier: 13

Odds: $20/$3.75

Intriguing runner. Only horse in the field that is having his first Australian start in this race. It's been a strategy that's paid dividends in the past. His two lead in trials have been sound, the first of which was in a hot heat alongside Ka Ying Rising, finishing around 5L behind the superstar sprinter. UK jockey Saffie Osborne comes over to take the ride which is a positive as she knows the horse well.

Verdict - Each way hope.

16. SHEZA ALIBI (Peter Moody/Kat Coleman - Luke Nolen)

Barrier: 5

Odds: $1.75/$1.17

Superstar of the Australian turf who thrashed her rivals to win two famous Group 1 races at this track last autumn (Doncaster and Randwick Guineas). She's come back in even better order this prep, winning the Group 1 Makybe Diva and beating all bar the sensational Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Winx Stakes. Of course, Autumn Glow won this race last year, saluting as a short-priced favourite. Last start, Sheza Alibi contested a 2000 metre race and while she ran well, she had her colours lowered by all-the-way leader Land Legend. Back to a suitable trip and her own age, she's clearly the one to beat.

Verdict - Top pick.

17. APOCALYPTIC (Michael Freedman - Tommy Berry)

Barrier: 16

Odds: $21/$4

Returned to the winners' circle with a win at huge odds in the Silver Eagle, running past some very classy horses. Perhaps the writing was on the wall given he ran 3rd behind stablemate Ninja and star Hong Kong sprinter Ka Ying Rising in a hot trial 11 days earlier. The barrier is going to make it tough for her unfortunately although a genuine tempo is likely which will give her chance. But I just see her being too far back in the big field to be a winning threat.

Verdict - Each way hope.

18. WITHIN THE LAW (Bjorn Baker - Rachel King)

Barrier: 2

Odds: $31/$5.50

The Bjorn Baker-trained mare performed well last start, charging to the line to finishing within a length of Apocalyptic. She'll improve again with the run under her belt as she was first up that day. In fact, I'd say her run was better than that of Apocalyptic as she was making ground in the inferior part of the track. She's $31 here, Apocalyptic $21. I know who I'd rather take.

Verdict - Leading chance. Best roughie.

TIPS

1st - 16. Sheza Alibi

2nd - 18. Within The Law

3rd - 3. Autumn Boy

4th - 5. Attica