The $7.5 million Golden Eagle race could be on the cards this spring for classy WA galloper Samizdat after an impressive win in Belmont over the weekend.
Doncaster Mile winner Brutal is one of the main 2019 The Golden Eagle chances in pre-nomination betting. Photo: Steve Hart.
The rising four-year-old has eyes on one of the country’s newest and richest races, The Golden Eagle to be held for the first time at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday November 2 – VRC Derby Day in Melbourne.
Prepared in Perth by Ascot-based horseman Chris Gangemi, Not A Single Doubt gelding Samizdat could well be worth bringing to the eastern states for a Sydney Spring Racing Carnival raid.
To date the chestnut has suffered just the one defeat in five career starts after his fourth turf triumph over the weekend on Strickland Stakes Day.
Samizdat lined-up over the 1200m in a Handicap 62+ with a hefty 62kg on his back, catching the eye when carting the load to a narrow but gutsy victory.
Gangemi told Racing NSW post-win that he is now considering heading to Sydney over staying in WA for the Perth Summer Racing Carnival at the end of the year with the $7.5 million The Golden Eagle (1500m) the main drawcard.
A likely lead-up into The Golden Eagle for Samizdat is the $500,000 Silver Eagle on October 12, which his performance in would determine whether or not The Golden Eagle was a viable target.
“A couple of the big guns shouldn’t be in the Silver Eagle and if we run top three, we have a crack at the big one,” Gangemi said.
“It’s ridiculous prize money. It’ll rule him out of our carnival but a $7.5m race is next level. He can race in $1 million races here next year.
“I’m sure we can find a 1200m race a couple of weeks out from when we need to be starting in Sydney.
“If he’s still racing well and warrants a trip, we’ll try to get there. He’s a bloody nice horse so all going well we will head over for a crack.
“He’s only four once and if you have one who might be competitive in a $7.5m race it’s enticing to head over and see how you go.”
Pre-nomination The Golden Eagle betting at Ladbrokes.com.au has Samizdat listed as a $26 shot.
Current all-in The Golden Eagle odds are led by another Perth galloper, the now Chris Waller-trained filly Arcadia Queen.
The classy daughter of Pierro has won five from six in WA to date including a runaway three length victory over the boys in the Group 2 WA Guineas (1600m) last November.
She was last seen enjoying an elite-level win when defeating the older gallopers by an incredible four and a half-lengths in the Group 1 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) before heading east to join Waller.
Team Hawkes’ Doncaster Mile winner Brutal ($4.60) and the Australian Guineas – All-Star Mile double winning filly from Tasmania Mystic Journey ($5) are the other early top fancies for the exclusive four-years-old feature.
