YEARS AHEAD OF RIVALS
Chances of every runner in the $10m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick
6. MR MOZART
Recent form: 111x22
Trainer: Team Hawkes
Jockey: Brenton Avdulla
Record: 14 starts: 5-3-0
Major wins: ATC Phar Lap Stakes, ATC Doncaster Prelude, Hawkesbury Guineas
Dufficy: Loaded with talent, Mr Mozart has been lacking a bit of concentration. If he puts his mind on the job, he will run well but the barrier is the concern. Needs to do a lot of work early.
Thomas: Mr Mozart won three straight stakes races to close out his three-year-old season and his two runs back have resulted in very good seconds. Racing in great form but the barrier is the concern.
17. GYPSY GODDESS (NZ)
Recent form: 13221x
Trainer: David Vandyke
Jockey: William Pike
Record: 9 starts: 6-2-1
Major wins: BRC Queensland Oaks, BRC Grand Prix Stakes
Dufficy: She’s unbeaten fresh, trainer David Vandyke knows this mare so well and this has been the plan all along to go first-up into the Golden Eagle. Willie Pike has stuck by her and she was brilliant winning at a mile first-up last preparation. Thomas: Gypsy Goddess won the Queensland Oaks to end her threeyear-old season and resumes first-up in this. She is very effective fresh and this race sets up nicely for her to unleash her powerful finish.
7. HILAL
Recent form: 7x9400
Trainer: Team Hawkes
Jockey: Jay Ford
Record: 18 starts: 3-4-2
Major wins: ATC Stan Fox Stakes Dufficy: Hilal has been off the boil lately. He hasn’t won in a while and needs to improve a lot on his recent runs. The wide barrier doesn’t help his chances either.
Hilal was competitive at a very high level last season but he has been below par this spring. He is not as effective on wet tracks so capable of improvement but hard to see him winning this.
18. LADY OF HONOUR
Recent form: x71233
Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes
Jockey: Jake Noonan
Record: 9 starts: 4-2-2
Major wins: MRC Twilight Glow Stakes
Dufficy: Lady Of Honour is a genuine, on-pace mare. I’m not sure where she fits in but she has earned her spot in the field. Her middle draw suits. Thomas: Lady Of Honour has been racing well in strong grade this spring with minor placings in the Stocks Stakes, Let’s Elope Stakes and Moonga Stakes in successive starts. She has good tactical speed and is over the odds.
8. MILITARY EXPERT
Recent form: x11237
Trainer: Annabel Neasham
Jockey: Tommy Berry
Record: 15 starts: 4-4-2
Best Performances: Third MRC Toorak Handicap, second MRC Sandown Stakes
Dufficy: Military Expert was very good until last week when he really struggled on the heavy track. He can improve on the dry ground and he is a winner over the track and distance. Thomas: His poor run at Moonee Valley on a very testing track is not an ideal lead-up into such a tough race as the Golden Eagle. The drier track will help but he has drawn off the track.
20. HOPE IN YOUR HEART
Recent form: 0x8111
Trainer: Kerry Parker
Jockey: Jason Collett
Record: 17 starts 5-1-2
Major wins: ATC Angst Quality Handicap, NJC Tibbie Stakes Dufficy: This is her stiffest test to date but I can’t deny this mare’s courage and will-to-win. She’s won three in succession and I can’t say no about her chances.
Thomas: Hope In Your Heart has put a “picket fence’’ next to her name this spring with three very good wins. She’s likely to settle midfield at best but will be strong through the line. I feel she is the best of the outsiders.
9. LIGHTSABER
Recent form: 0x9806
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Tom Sherry
Record: 17 starts: 4-2-0
Major wins: VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes, Caulfield Guineas Prelude Dufficy: Lightsaber had been disappointing but he ran a better race last start. He showed promise as a younger horse but would need to produce a career-best effort to win this.
Thomas: Lightsaber won the Guineas Prelude and ran fourth to Anamoe in the Caulfield Guineas last year. He also ran second in the Australian Guineas behind Hitotsu in the autumn. On his day, he’s capable but he’s been struggling.
21. CARDINAL GEM
Recent form: 412311
Trainer: Grahame Begg
Jockey: Jordan Childs
Record: 15 starts: 4-3-2
Major wins: Weekend Hussler Stakes Dufficy: Cardinal Gem is an in-form Victorian with a big finish. He’s very consistent but this is obviously a much stiffer test for him.
Thomas: Cardinal Gem continues to improve and broke through at stakes level last start when he hit the line hard to win the Weekend Hussler Stakes. Drawn well and should get the right run. Good each-way chance.
10. PINSTRIPED
Recent form: 50x236
Trainer: Enver Jusufovic
Jockey: Sam Clipperton
Record: 8 starts: 3-1-1
Major wins: VRC CS Hayes Stakes Dufficy: Pinstriped is a nice type. His three runs back from a spell have been good and he’s not the worst in this race.
Thomas: Pinstriped likes to settle off the speed but he finds the line well. His form this spring is sound but he is getting beaten in easier races.
22. JIMMY THE BEAR
Recent form: 121133
Trainer: Patrick Payne
Jockey: TBC
Record: 12 starts: 6-2-2
Best performances: Thirds Weekend Hussler Stakes, Heatherlie Handicap Dufficy: Jimmy The Bear is very genuine. He has a good winning strike rate but I prefer others in this race.
Thomas: Jimmy The Bear wasn’t beaten far when third to Cardinal Gem in the Weekend Hussler. He’s a consistent galloper but this is a tough ask.