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The richest race on Sydney’s spring calendar delivered a thrilling finish on Saturday, with Skyhook announcing himself among the nation’s elite four-year-olds after heading the 2026 Golden Eagle results at Randwick in a dramatic blanket finish.

Prepared by the training partnership of Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, the son of Written Tycoon dug deep under Chad Schofield to edge out roughie Decorum by a nose in the Group 1 $10 million The Golden Eagle (1500m), while Beiwacht rounded out the trifecta in third.

The Group 1 breakthrough capped a stellar preparation for Skyhook, who had already enjoyed a standout spring highlighted by victories in the Theo Marks Stakes and Shannon Stakes before delivering the biggest win of his career on one of Australian racing’s grandest stages.

2026 Golden Eagle Results

Nothing in it! ?
Skyhook flies in the G1 Golden Eagle to win in an epic finish!@SchofieldChad @RARacing_ @aus_turf_club pic.twitter.com/iFgK3wryv1

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 31, 2026

Long-Term Plan Comes to Fruition

Few horses entered the Golden Eagle in better form, and Ryan revealed the race had been mapped out well in advance.

“I wish they did when you’ve got a horse like him. He’s had a great prep. We set him for the race after he ran in the Golden Rose,” the winner’s co-trainer told Sky Thoroughbred Central.

“The flaw in his campaign over the last twelve months was taking him to Melbourne.

“After June, we sat down and mapped out these four races heading into this and nothing has gone wrong.”

The veteran horseman explained a subtle training adjustment earlier in the year may have been the catalyst for the gelding’s rise.

“A couple of hurdles. Before the Hawkesbury Guineas I put him over a few hurdles, and he’s never looked back since,” he added.

“I haven’t done it since, but he was jumping the hurdles before the Guineas, after he ran in the Arrowfield, and he hasn’t looked back.”

Ryan believes understanding the horse’s individual needs has also played a significant role.

“I might have learned how to train him a little bit too,” he said.

“I switched a few little things at home.

“He’s a horse who doesn’t cop a lot of work. He doesn’t cop backing up, so I might have just found out a little bit more about him.”

Connections always viewed Skyhook as a horse with a bright future.

“I said to John Messara, I don’t think he’ll be any good until an autumn four-year-old, so we’ll see what happens,” Ryan said.

“He’s ahead of schedule.”

Familiar Rivalry Continues

The Golden Eagle also added another chapter to Skyhook’s ongoing rivalry with Beiwacht, who again chased him home in a major race.

“Beiwacht did,” Ryan said.

“We’ve raced against Beiwacht five times and beaten him four.

“The only time he has beaten us home was in the Golden Rose.”

Schofield Delivers on The Big Stage

There was a fairytale element to the victory for Chad Schofield, who secured the ride and made the most of the opportunity.

Ryan revealed Schofield was determined to get aboard.

“It was good. It was touch-and-go who was going to ride him,” the trainer said.

“I’ve known Chad since he was twelve years old.

“I’ve watched him all the way through, and he was chasing, chasing the ride.

“He rang a couple of owners, which I don’t like jockeys doing, but he did.

“And I thought, why not?

“We know him well and I had a good bit of luck with his father.”

Despite the Group 1 triumph, Ryan indicated Skyhook may now head for a deserved break before returning in the autumn.

“I would like to give him an ease-up,” he explained.

“Since he came into work in December for the autumn, he’s only had eighteen days off.

“I’d like to give him a break.

“It’s a quick turnaround to the autumn.

“The Apollo Stakes is in February and it’s a Group 1 race now, so we’ll aim him at that.

“He’s won his good race now and I think there’s more in him.”

Schofield Savours Career Highlight

Schofield admitted the past fortnight had been surreal after adding Golden Eagle success to recent major-race achievements.

“I am. Amazing couple of weeks,” The Golden Eagle winning jockey said.

“I am lost for words.

“Just so thankful for the opportunity.

“Two special horses to help me win those races.

“I paid homage to Kerrin.

“This is his horse.

“He should be here today not me.”

The winning jockey revealed he had predicted the race would unfold favourably despite drawing wide.

“We drew really wide,” Schofield said.

“I always thought we could end up one out one back.

“That is what I told the owners and trainer pre-race.”

When the speed map changed early, Schofield adapted perfectly.

“When Regal Award didn’t jump like he can, I rolled across outside the leader, but the pace was very slow,” he explained.

“Obviously when Apocalyptic went around, that gave me the perfect bit of cover.

“My horse dropped the bridle and found the most beautiful rhythm.

“I took the speed out of the race knowing Autumn Boy and Sheza Alibi finish really well.”

The finish was heart-stopping, but Skyhook never surrendered.

“I waited as long as I could and he is so game,” Schofield said.

“I felt like Decorum had us a couple of times but my horse pinned his ears back and was in for the fight.”

The race did not pan out for Sheza Alibi, who started a heavily-backed odds-on favourite but could only manage 11th after failing to make her customary impact over the closing stages.

Jockey Luke Nolen felt the talented mare’s chances evaporated during the second half of the contest, saying simply: “Just didn’t get the chance in the second half of the race.”

The disappointing result ended her winning momentum after entering the Golden Eagle as one of the headline acts and leaves connections to reassess her summer targets following an uncharacteristically subdued performance at Randwick.

The victory continued Skyhook’s meteoric rise through the ranks and delivered a deserved Group 1 breakthrough for a horse whose spring campaign had been carefully planned around the Golden Eagle. After banking more than $6.6 million in prizemoney and defeating a high-class field at Randwick, the four-year-old now looks poised to make an even bigger impact when he returns for the autumn carnival in 2027.

The Golden Eagle 2026 Results & Finishing Order