The Golden Eagle 2021 Winner: I’m Thunderstruck Salutes for the Punters

October 30, 2021

The Golden Eagle 2021 Winner: I’m Thunderstruck Salutes for the Punters

The Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained favourite I’m Thunderstruck was too good for his rivals late coming from well back to run down the brave runner-up Count De Rupee and take out a thrilling third edition of the $7.5 million Golden Eagle in Sydney.

I'm Thunderstruck (Photo: Steve Hart) | Races.com.au

I’m Thunderstruck was excellent late getting top prize in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle in Sydney. Photo: Steve Hart.

A four-year-old son of 2009 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking, the Kiwi-bred gelding was enormous late backing-up from his Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) win at Caulfield to win his Sydney race debut in Rosehill’s 2021 Golden Eagle over 1500m.

“He always has to fight doesn’t he? He would have won by further and cleaner and easier if he had have had a nice run in the race but always he’s had to fight his way out and then finish off,” co-trainer Mick Price said after the race. 

“It’s like the Toorak, the horse was there and the jockey was there for him. Very brave. You’ve just got to chase these races.”

Taking his record up to six wins from nine starts with a deserved victory, I’m Thunderstruck was guided to victory by Hugh Bowman who arrived late after sitting back off the sped set by Forbidden Love.

“Just amazing. I’ve been riding a long time and I’ve ridden some amazing horses as we all know and the feeling that I got today is what it’s all about. I balanced up, I was full of running and left Brock’s back (Brock Ryan – Count De Rupee) at the top of the straight because I was going so well, I didn’t want any excuses being held in,” Bowman said. 

“While I was making my way clear, Brock’s skipped away and he put about four-and-a-half lengths on us I think, but I didn’t panic. I balanced him up and when I went for him he found, but at about the 200m he swapped legs and I just had to sit there while he got himself organised. Honestly, I was a passenger. He just took me to the line and I just made a point of not getting in his way and he delivered in spades.”

I’m Thunderstruck was settled around eighth in the run and still had plenty of ground to make up as Forbidden Love and the on-pace Queenslander Apache Chase swung together around the home turn.

Once on the straight it was the Robert & Luke Price-trained Count De Rupee, coming off a close third only a half-length beaten in the $500,000 Silver Eagle, looking the danger running on well once in the clear.

With 300m to go, I’m Thunderstruck started to dig in and when Bowman hit the button it was all over in a matter of strides.

I’m Thunderstruck ($3.50) went right over the top of them the last 100m, knocking off the brave runner-up Count De Rupee ($18) by a short-head with the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained Vangelic at 30/1 finishing a further one and a half-lengths back third.

2021 The Golden Eagle Results & Finishing Order

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 2 I’M THUNDERSTRUCK (NZ) Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) Hugh Bowman 8 57.5kg $3.50F
2 11 COUNT DE RUPEE Robert & Luke Price Brock Ryan (a) 0.2L 3 57.5kg $18
3 16 VANGELIC Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Tim Clark 1.7L 4 55.5kg $31
4 4 APACHE CHASE Desleigh Forster Jim Byrne 1.76L 5 57.5kg $5.50
5 12 LAWS OF INDICES (IRE) Annabel Neasham Tommy Berry 1.77L 16 56.5kg $31
6 13 MAXIMAL (GB) John O’Shea Ms Alysha Collett 2.55L 18 56.5kg $15
7 9 ELLSBERG Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Joshua Parr 2.99L 1 57.5kg $5.50
8 1 PRIVATE EYE Joseph Pride Nash Rawiller 3.26L 14 57.5kg $7
9 10 LOVE TAP Richard & Michael Freedman Robbie Dolan 3.83L 2 57.5kg $51
10 15 FORBIDDEN LOVE Richard & Michael Freedman Jean Van Overmeire 4.49L 13 55.5kg $51
11 14 REVE DE VOL (IRE) Annabel Neasham Brodie Loy 4.59L 6 56.5kg $101
12 18 ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller Glyn Schofield 4.64L 15 55.5kg $26
13 5 AYSAR Ben & JD Hayes Jay Ford 5.33L 12 57.5kg $101
14 7 AMISH BOY Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Ms Kathy O’Hara 5.61L 9 57.5kg $41
15 8 EXOBOOM Peter & Paul Snowden Lee Magorrian 6.4L 10 57.5kg $51
16 17 MEDIA AWARD Chris Calthorpe Jack Martin 6.42L 7 55.5kg $61
17 3 AEGON (NZ) Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Jason Collett 7.14L 17 57.5kg $41
18 6 AIM Peter & Paul Snowden Andrew Adkins 17.01L 11 57.5kg $51
21e WHEELHOUSE Chris Waller 0
22e BLONDEAU Chris Waller 0
19e KIKU Chris Waller 0
20e OUR PLAYBOY Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 0

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Racing fields and data are copyright 2011-2021 © Racing Australia Pty Ltd (RA) (and other parties working with it).
Racing materials, including fields, form and results, is subject to copyright which is owned by RA and other parties working with it. Full copyright notice.

Spring Racing

Military Mission Fires in 2023...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field �...

Zipping Classic 2023 Field & Odds Update: Vow And Declare Defends Title

Danny O’Brien’s 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare continues to show a...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbott...

Overpass Heads 2023 Winterbottom Stakes Field & Betting Markets

Bjron Baker’s The Everest performer Overpass is tipped to return to winning...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 R...

Osipenko Leads The Gong 2023 Race Field & Betting

The Chris Waller-trained Pierro four-year-old Osipenko is firm favourite in...

2023 Railway Stakes Field ...

2023 Railway Stakes Field & Betting Update: Tuvalu Narrow Favourite

The Lindsey Smith-trained top-weight Tuvalu is narrow favourite in the latest...

Horse Racing Today

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapat...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: L...

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Co-trainer Gai Waterhouse extended her record to eight victories in the 2024...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winne...

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Veight joined an elite list of three-year-olds to beat home the older horses...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results:...

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Chris Waller’s VRC Derby winner from the spring, Riff Rocket, now has the...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Vi...

2024 Ranvet Stakes Results: Via Sistina Too Good Debuting for Waller

Yu Long Investments lucrative European purchase, the now Chris Waller-trained...

Race Results

2024 The Galaxy Results: Zapateo Upsets Sunshine In Paris

Golden Slipper Results 2024: Lady Of Camelot Beats Coleman, Storm Boy Third

Imperatriz Defends Title in 2024 William Reid Stakes

2024 George Ryder Stakes Winner Veight Beats Older Rivals

Rosehill Guineas 2024 Results: Riff Rocket Flies Home Late Ahead of ATC Derby

Race Previews

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off

Fields & Form

UK Raider Post Impressionist Heads Tancred Stakes Field & Odds

2024 Australian Cup Field & Betting Update: Pride Of Jenni v Mr Brightside

Golden Slipper 2024 Tips & Betting Update

The Galaxy 2024 Race Field & Odds: Ozzmosis Leads Betting on Slipper Day Sprint

2024 Rosehill Guineas Field & Betting Update: Riff Rocket Set to Take Off