Golden Eagle set to soar with $ 7.5m

SYDNEY’S new- look spring carnival now boasts the two richest races in the southern hemisphere with the inaugural running of the $ 7.5 million Golden Eagle next year.

The Golden Eagle, the first feature race held exclusively for four- year- olds, will be run over 1500m at Rosehill Gardens on November 2.

The new race complements the $ 14 million The Everest ( 1200m) run at Royal Randwick next year on October 19.

Racing NSW and Australian Turf Club yesterday announced the Sydney spring carnival revamp that also includes two new $ 1 million races, the Bondi Stakes ( 1600m) for three- year- olds and the Golden Gift ( 1100m) for two- year- olds.

The Golden Eagle, with prizemoney exceeding the $ 7.3 million Melbourne Cup, will be funded entirely from new revenues rather than drawing on existing NSW thoroughbred racing industry revenues.