The William Haggas-trained UK raider Lake Forest went around at huge odds down under in the $10 million The Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill but was too good in the four-year-old’s feature to survive a protest by French galloper Lazzat to salute.
The traveling maestro Haggas was back in Australia and back in winning form coming to Sydney for the country’s second richest race and coming away with a big payday thanks to a gun ride by the young Cieren Fallon aboard No Nay Never entire Lake Forest.
The boy from Wiggen and his mount charged home up the rails the closing stages to dominate the 2024 Golden Eagle results with a narrow but impressive victory over the well-backed fellow international Lazzat who suffered his first defeat.
“Unbelievable. Wow, I can’t believe it. Lost for words,” Fallon said.
“Everything went to Plan A. Tuck in, we knew we had a lot of speed and had to save his turn of foot. I thought if we used too much energy early on, we’d have been taking away our turn of foot.
“So, I had to ride him quite brave and hope we got a bit of luck. And we got a few gaps up there.
“Obviously, Stefano helped me get a few gaps there and, you know, what a horse.
“He’s a superstar, he’s such an easy ride. He’s quite cheeky. He’s got a bit about him. And to ride for the boss, he places his horses very well, I think he’s the best in the world at it.
“I’ve been with him since day one, he’s looked after me, so to have faith in me to put me up on mounts like this, I’m very grateful, and I’m glad I could repay the favour.”
There was a protest launched by jockey Antonio Orani who rode the previously unbeaten Lazzat in the Golden Eagle field against Lake Forest but it was dismissed and the original placings held.
In third to complete the trifecta as the best of the Australian runners was the James Cummings-trained Tom Kitten in another Golden Eagle placing for the Royal Blue Godolphin crew.
There was a tremendous push for the lead with Lazzat going forward to hit the front running position.
Makarena was up on his outside pushing him all the way, while Tom Kitten was travelling sweetly just off the speed on the inside.
Once on the straight, Stradbroke winning mare Stefi Magnetica briefly looked a danger charging home up the rails before Lake Forest burst through of nowhere to get up and nail Lazzat right on the line.
It was an incredible training performance by Haggas who bought the eventual Golden Eagle winner to Australia off a lead-up second in a Group 3 at home over 1207m.
“We knew he has an explosive turn of foot. If you watch some of his other races, he’s so fast towards the end. And Cieren has ridden that so beautifully, and that was the plan, sit back, let them all kill themselves in front and come through to finish. But a really brave ride from Ceiren. And Oh my God, how exciting,” stable representative Isabelle Paul told Sky Thoroughbred Central post-win.
The Golden Eagle 2024 Odds & Results
| Runner Details | Win | Place |
|---|---|---|
|
1st
14. Lake Forest (8)
J: Cieren Fallon 56.5kg
T: William Haggas |
||
|
2nd
12. Lazzat (12)
J: Antonio Orani 56.5kg
T: Jerome Reynier |
||
|
3rd
3. Tom Kitten (2)
J: Ben Melham 57.5kg
T: James Cummings |
||
|
4th
17. Makarena (20)
J: Tyler Schiller 55.5kg
T: M, W & J Hawkes |
||
|
5th
15. Stefi Magnetica (4)
J: Zac Lloyd 55.5kg
T: Bjorn Baker |
||
|
6th
11. Port Lockroy (9)
J: Adam Hyeronimus 57.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
7th
16. Joliestar (11)
J: Kerrin McEvoy 55.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
8th
10. War Machine (7)
J: Jay Ford 57.5kg
T: Michael Moroney & Glen Thompson |
||
|
9th
1. Southport Tycoon (15)
J: Craig Williams 57.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
10th
18. Skybird (16)
J: Beau Mertens 55.5kg
T: Mitchell Freedman |
||
|
11th
6. Encap (1)
J: Jason Collett 57.5kg
T: Gary Portelli |
||
|
12th
19. Ascoli Piceno (17)
J: Joao Moreira 54.5kg
T: Yoichi Kuroiwa |
||
|
13th
4. Ostraka (13)
J: Chad Schofield 57.5kg
T: Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald |
||
|
14th
9. Kintyre (3)
J: Reece Jones 57.5kg
T: Gary Portelli |
||
|
15th
13. Craig (5)
J: Nash Rawiller 56.5kg
T: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young |
||
|
16th
5. Griff (6)
J: Dylan Gibbons 57.5kg
T: Ciaron Maher |
||
|
17th
7. Xidaki (10)
J: Tom Sherry 57.5kg
T: Peter Snowden |
||
|
18th
8. Chrysaor (14)
J: Regan Bayliss 57.5kg
T: Chris Waller |
||
|
19th
2. Veight (18)
J: Harry Coffey 57.5kg
T: T & C McEvoy |
||
|
20th
20. Corazon Beat (19)
J: Tommy Berry 54.5kg
T: Shizuya Kato |
Data retrieved: 02/11/2024 06:04:11 PM (Australia/Brisbane)
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Race comments
ASCOLI PICENO (19) Japanese trained mare who brings impeccable ratings here. First run back she defeated a strong lineup when taking out the G3 Keisei Hai Autumn Handicap at Nakayama over 1600m on September 8. Expecting Moreira to weave his magic from the sticky barrier and figure prominently. JOLIESTAR (16) drifted back early before savaging the line late when seventh in the G1 The Everest at Randwick over 1200m on October 19. Ready for the 1500m now and is a genuine top-three prospect. LAZZAT (12) French gelding by Territories undefeated in six starts. Has a smart record over this trip and maps to get the right run after scoring a 3 len victory in the G1 MRC De Cheest over 1300m at Deauville on August 4. Has settled in well by all reports and can keep his unbeaten record intact. STEFI MAGNETICA (15) won the Stradbroke Hcp last prep and has looked sharp in two runs back. Failed to sprint with them when ninth over 1200m in the G1 The Everest at Randwick last time out. Each-way.