Jason Richardson hails Golden Eagle as ‘incredible event’ for racing purists

As action gears up in Melbourne for the Flemington carnival, Sydney will play host to one of Australia’s richest race days on Saturday with the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) headlining the Rosehill card.

Though only in the infancy of its life, the Golden Eagle has created a ripple in just five runnings of the race.

Watch Golden Eagle day live and free on Seven and 7plus Sport this Saturday

Channel 7 sports icon Jason Richardson insists the event is one of the most revered on the racing calendar, and rightfully so.

“As a racing purist, it’s an incredible event,” Richardson said.

“There are eight Group 1 winners tackling it, and the international rating of the race stands up.

“Forget the event aspect, from a pure racing point of view, it’s quality with a capital Q.

“It’s only been going for five years and, in that time, 89 horses have run and 21 of them have gone on to win a Group 1 after.

“From an owner’s point of view, too, it’s the richest race of the year because of the slot conditions of The Everest.”

Richardson says the race has played a critical role in prolonging the racing career of some horses who could previously have been whisked away to stud.

“For a while, people have bemoaned the fact that all our good three-year-olds have been retired off to stud, so Racing NSW have been clever to create a really rich four-year-old race to keep horses racing for another season,” Richardson said.

“We get real quality as a result. For example, Southport Tycoon - an Australian Guineas and Manikato winner - could’ve been shipped off to stud but the prizemoney is too good to ignore.”

Last year, Japanese raider Obamburumai swept to victory in the lucrative feature and Richardson says it could be the Land of the Rising Sun who strike again with $3.90 favourite Ascoli Piceno.

“She’s significantly better than Obamburumai,” Richardson said.

“She’s already a Group 1 winner and she’s a quality mare from an outside barrier.

“Her lead-up run in the NHK mile, she came second in that, whereas Obamburumai was third last year leading into this race.”

However, Richardson is looking elsewhere for his selection and has targeted a $5.50 chance and gives a $26 shot blowout claims.

“I’m with Chris Waller - Joliestar’s run in The Everest was absolutely outstanding,” Richardson said.

“She’s got a nice barrier, gets a two-kilo mares weight allowance, and I think she’ll be storming home late to win.

“I will say, I think Encap is a really good roughie.”

On Tuesday, Melbourne’s headline meeting will be accompanied by a glossy fixture at Randwick, including the $3 million Big Dance (1600m).

“Traditionally, it’s always a great meeting, Melbourne Cup day in Sydney,” Richardson said.

“Racing NSW have been smart and put a $3 million race on for people sitting and watching, giving them a quality race to bet into.

“It’s a field with all the winners from the country cups around NSW and ‘win-and-you’re-in’ race.

“It gives them a chance to come to the big smoke and race for an extraordinary amount of money on Australia’s premier race day.

“Us on Channel 7, we’ll have reporters in Adelaide, Perth, Sydney, everywhere, because Australians celebrate the biggest race of the year no matter where they are.”