Arcadia Queen favourite for Golden Eagle

Arcadia Queen
Arcadia Queen is favourite for the inaugural $7.5m Golden Eagle at Rosehill after drawing gate five.

Punters have swarmed to Arcadia Queen to win the Golden Eagle with the mare backed from $4.20 to $2.80 after drawing barrier five of 17 in the inaugural running of the $7.5 million race at Rosehill.

The mare has displaced former favourite, Doncaster Mile winner Brutal, who will start from the outside gate and has eased to from $4 to $5.

Raced by leviathan Perth owner Bob Peters, Arcadia Queen started favourite in the $14 million Everest and was unplaced for the first time in her career, beating only Ten Sovereigns.

Peters and trainer Chris Waller believe the step up from 1200 to 1500 metres will be in her favour.

“I think we took her out of her comfort zone in The Everest,” Waller said.

“She stayed with them but it just took away from her sprint at the finish. She was only beaten 4-1/2-lengths, so nothing too much to be concerned about.

“Her action is good, her attitude is great and I think 1500 metres will help her travel better and let down.”

Waller will also be represented by Epsom Handicap winner Kolding ($5) and Zousain ($151) who has been placed three times at Group One level.

Another to come out of The Everest is Classique Legend who is at $7 and will jump from the inside gate.

He will be reunited with Kerrin McEvoy who has been aboard for his three wins.

McEvoy rode Redzel in The Everest and Nash Rawiller was aboard Classique Legend who finished a luckless sixth.

Rawiller will stick with Tasmanian horse The Inevitable in the Golden Eagle after riding him to win the Silver Eagle so McEvoy has seized the opportunity to get back on the Les Bridge-trained Classique Legend.

“He steps up to the 1500 metres and he was a bit unlucky in The Everest so it’s nice to be able to get on the back of him going into this big race on Saturday,” McEvoy said.

“He’s a nice relaxed horse so he should be able to get in a nice rhythm and I should be able to ride him accordingly. I think he might enjoy 1500 metres.”

The race boasts three northern hemisphere-trained horses – Never No Morel, I Am Superman and Beat Le Bon.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained Never No More will be ridden by Pierrre-Charles Boudot who rode Waldgeist to win the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this month.

Never No More is at $26 with I Am Superman is at $101 and Beat Le Bon $81.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments