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The 2026 Golden Eagle takes place at Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 31, 2026 offering $10 million in stakes and running as a Group 1 event for the first time. 

The Golden Eagle 2026 is one of the newest and most exciting races on the Australian calendar, and this page gives punters a complete introduction to the $10 million feature that has rapidly become a must-watch event of the spring. Run over 1500 metres at Rosehill and exclusive to four-year-olds, the Golden Eagle blends high stakes, elite talent, and a unique race profile that consistently delivers fast tempos, big finishes, and headline performances. With its massive prize money, strong interstate and international interest, and a proven record of launching future stars, the race has quickly become a key target for top stables and a favourite among punters looking for value, form angles, and emerging champions. This guide covers everything you need to know about Golden Eagle betting odds, tips, field updates, and race history to boost the confidence for anyone diving into one of Australia’s richest and most competitive spring features.

2026 Golden Eagle Odds

See below for the latest Golden Eagle 2026 odds followed by the official finishing order after the event this spring.

2026 Golden Eagle Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Golden Eagle 2026 Tips and best bets on the $10 million showdown this spring.

The Golden Eagle is one of the more recent additions to the Sydney Spring Racing Calendar, and the previously Special Conditions feature, which is held on the Saturday prior to Victoria’s Melbourne Cup at Royal Randwick (moved from Rosehill Gardens ahead of the 2025 edition), officially gained Group 1 status in 2026.

Contested for the first time in 2019, The Golden Eagle race is open only to four-year-old horses and is the most lucrative of its kind offering $10 million in prize money.

The Golden Eagle takes place in Sydney on the same day Melbourne hosts the time-honoured Victoria Derby.

The race is a set weights event that is now a hugely popular target for the middle-distance four-year-olds from around the country.

The 1500m showdown is part of the “Golden Slam” series of races that begins with the two-year-olds in the Golden Slipper and also includes the Golden Rose for three-year-olds.

Horses may come via a range of different top-level lead-up races into The Golden Eagle including the Group 1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) run at Randwick in early October.

Inaugural The Golden Eagle winner Kolding became the first horse in history to complete the Epsom – Golden Eagle double in 2019 before the double was completed by another Waller trained runner in Autumn Glow (2025).

The 2020 The Golden Eagle winner Colette also came via the same lead-up improving on her sixth in the Epsom Handicap.

For the third edition in 2021 I’m Thunderstruck won the Golden Eagle on the back of a lead-up Group 1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) win in Melbourne.

In 2022 Peter Moody’s Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win was also a graduate out of the Toorak Handicap having run fifth in his lead-up to the $10 million race.

Looking to rival the Melbourne racing action down south on the same day, The Golden Eagle Day also features the $3 million Russell Balding Stakes which was previously known as the Winners Stakes and renamed in honour of the previous year’s The Everest winning horses up until 2024, and the $750,000 Rosehill Gold Cup (2000m).

The traditional lead-up into The Golden Eagle field is Randwick’s $1 million Silver Eagle (1300m).

The form out of the 2021 Golden Eagle was franked with the winner, I’m Thunderstruck, going on to place second in both the then $5 million The All-Star Mile in Melbourne and Sydney’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile the following autumn.

In 2022 the Golden Eagle field size was increased at the last minute to include two extra runners with a capacity line-up 20 starters.

The 2022 Golden Eagle winner I Wish I Win franked the form the following autumn running well in a host of Group 1 events including winning the 2023 TJ Smith Stakes.

In 2023 The Golden Eagle saw its first international winner with classy young Japanese raider Obamburumai denying the locals.

There was another international raider on top in the 2024 Golden Eagle results with UK visitor Lake Forest scoring an upset at $19 defeating the French visitor Lazzat.

The 2024 Golden Eagle form was franked with the third placed Tom Kitten going on to win the 2025 Group 1 All-Star Mile the following March.

Autumn Glow became just the second mare to win the Golden Eagle in 2025 when saluting as the odds-on favourite to take her unbeaten streak to eight straight and hand Waller a second win in the lucrative feature.

Since 2025, the Golden Eagle has run at Royal Randwick instead of its earlier home at Rosehill Gardens due to a strategic decision by Racing NSW to elevate the race’s profile within Sydney’s Spring Carnival.

The move aligns the $10 million race with other marquee events like The Everest, Spring Champion Stakes, and the Big Dance, creating a four-week blockbuster carnival at Randwick. Racing NSW cited the race’s growing international prestige—highlighted by eight of the top 12 finishers from 2024 going on to win Group 1 races globally—and its status as NSW’s second most-wagered race as key reasons for the relocation.

Autumn Glow, the 2025 Golden Eagle champ, firmly franked the form returning the following autumn to win her next three starts including the Group 1 Verry Elleegant Stakes and George Ryder, as well as the Winx Stakes fresh in the spring of 2026.

Golden Eagle 2026
Date:	Saturday, October 31, 2026
Track:	Randwick Racecourse
Distance:	1500m
Race Type:	Set Weights – 4YOs
Status:	Group 1
Prize Money:	$10 million

2026 Golden Eagle Results

Stay tuned for the official 2026 Golden Eagle race results and finishing order to see which four-year-old comes out on top in the $10 million Sydney showdown.

• 1st: TBD
• 2nd: TBD
• 3rd: TBD

Winning Margin: TBD

Winning Time: TBD

2026 Golden Eagle Betting

The Golden Eagle 2026 betting odds and links to the latest prices at Ladbrokes are available at Races.com.au.

In 2021 I’m Thunderstruck ($3.50) became the first favourite in Golden Eagle betting to salute.

There was a notable upset in 2024 with Lake Forest from the UK saluting at The Golden Eagle odds of $19.

Autumn Glow ($1.75 in 2025) is the last Golden Eagle favourite to win and the first to do so as the odds-on fancy.

2026 Golden Eagle Form Guide

The Golden Eagle form guide is the complete breakdown of every runner lining up in the $10 million four-year-old feature at Randwick, giving punters a detailed look at each horse’s recent performances, racing pattern, strengths, and suitability to the 1500 metre trip. It’s the key resource for understanding how the race is likely to unfold, which runners are trending upwards, and where genuine betting value may be hiding. A strong Golden Eagle form guide helps punters compare form lines from Sydney, Melbourne, and interstate lead-ups, assess international raiders, and identify emerging stars ready to peak on the big stage.

What Punters Should Look for on the Golden Eagle Form Guide:

• 1500m suitability — Randwick’s 1500m demands a blend of tactical speed and a sharp turn of foot. Horses proven between 1400–1600m are ideal.
• Recent form — Look for runners hitting the race in peak condition, especially those placing in Group races or producing strong sectionals.
• Randwick track profile — Randwick’s long straight rewards horses who can build momentum and finish strongly. Late closers often thrive.
• Interstate & international formlines — The Golden Eagle regularly attracts raiders. Punters should compare their form against Sydney’s established four-year-old benchmarks.
• Barrier & race map — With a large field, barriers matter. Identify runners likely to secure clean runs and avoid traffic.
• Stable strength — Top stables targeting the race often bring multiple live chances. Proven grand final trainers are a major positive.
• Sectional times — Horses producing elite late splits in lead-ups are perfectly suited to Randwick’s long finishing run.
• Gear changes — Blinkers on, tongue ties, or other adjustments can signal intent and sharpen performance.

FULL 2026 GOLDEN EAGLE FORM GUIDE

2026 Golden Eagle Ballot Exemptions

The horses that run first, second and third in the Epsom Handicap and Silver Eagle are exempt from ballot, as are the winner/s of the previous running of the Golden Rose, Randwick Guineas and Arrowfield Sprint.

2026 Golden Eagle Field

The confirmed The Golden Eagle 2026 field of four-year-olds will be detailed below as soon as available.

The Golden Eagle field size was increased to 20 starters in 2022.

The 2026 Golden Eagle final field is out on Tuesday the 27th of October 2026.

2026 The Golden Eagle Nominations

Early The Golden Eagle 2026 nominations close on Monday the 7th of September 2026.

The 2026 Golden Eagle nominations attracted 112 early entries led in betting by Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman’s Randwick Guineas – Doncaster Mile winner from the autumn, Sheza Alibi.

Read more on the key Golden Eagle 2026 nominees and early favourites.

	Last 10	Horse	Sex	Age	Trainer	Hcp Rating
1	3x158x4	AGATHA	M	4	Michael Freedman	67
2	1112x24x3x	APOCALYPTIC	M	4	Michael Freedman	103
3	2x1124x87x	ASAKURA	G	4	Mitchell Freedman
4	11x4380x23	ATTICA	G	4	Joseph Pride
5	11x	AURORA BELLE (NZ)	M	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
6	71x3212x8x	AUTUMN BOY	H	4	Chris Waller	110
7	3210x3377x	BACASH	G	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
8	4x3115x1	BARRENGARRY	G	4	Joseph Ible	73
9	0x168150x3	BEADMAN	H	4	Peter Snowden	106
10	14x8261x1x	BEIWACHT	H	4	Chris Waller
11	90x469150x	BELLA WAHINE	M	4	Chris Waller
12	13x1121x0x	BELLE CHEVAL (NZ)	M	4	Mark Walker
13	31x	BENEATH THE ROCK	M	4	Kris Lees	64
14	146x04x74x	BESIDE THE OCEAN	M	4	Chris Waller	76
15	5111x4114x	BRAVE MONARCH	G	4	Chris & Corey Munce
16	4x17x25x	BROADWAY STREET	G	4	Kerry Parker	58
17		BRUTELLI	M	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
18	2111x66x1x	BUCCLEUCH	G	4	Patrick Payne
19	4x311x2x	CABBUCIO	M	4	Joseph Ible	63
20	1x42130x2x	CAFE AU LAIT	M	4	Chris Waller	67
21	1x60x1610x	CANTIAMO	M	4	Kris Lees	79
22	16x11x	CASTLEJOHN	G	4	Joseph Pride	76
23	7x3221x	CHAPPY (NZ)	G	4	Chris Waller
24	56x3425x6x	CHEEKY SORT	M	4	Joseph Ible
25	2134126x	CHISPA (NZ)	M	4	Chris Waller	77
26	31x331100x	CRATHIE KIRK	M	4	Kris Lees
27	9x17959x2x	CROCODILE	G	4	Ciaron Maher
28	1×1142	CRUISERWEIGHT (NZ)	G	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
29	2x44x2131x	CUSTOM	M	4	Ciaron Maher
30	21x119x1	DECORUM	G	4	Michael Freedman	82
31		DIAMOND VIRTUE (NZ)	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
32	842451x	DONATELLO (NZ)	G	4	Chris Waller	59
33	33742x178x	ENVIABLE	M	4	Chris Waller
34	13117x	ESMAHLI	G	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
35	3513x5517x	ESTREMO	G	4	Chris Waller
36	x049x2250x	FEDERALIST	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
37	342x2x	FORCE MARCH	G	4	Andrew MacDonald
38	1138×13	FUNDAMENTAL NATURE	M	4	Ciaron Maher
39	57x	GIANLUCA	G	4	Kerry Parker
40	2x12111x1x	GOLD COAST BELLE	M	4	Danny O’Brien
41	9514188x4x	HALLOWED HALLS (NZ)	G	4	Chris Waller	67
42	435x10542x	HILLIER	G	4	Annabel & Rob Archibald	84
43	x12x61067x	HORSESHOE HILL	M	4	Bjorn Baker	72
44	5x8x31x	I AM ADONIS	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes	63
45	2x11x	IN’KANTOSSTAR (NZ)	G	4	Ciaron Maher
46	31x	JUST DESSERTS	G	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
47	x870x0040x	JUST TOO FLY	G	4	Chris Waller
48	140x	JUSTIQUE	M	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
49	30x5539x5x	KARINSKA	M	4	Chris Waller	82
50	1x	KARREN	M	4	Lloyd Kennewell
51	3x1032x5x	KATSUMI OROCHI	G	4	Anthony & Sam Freedman
52	214348x	KAYE JAY	G	4	Clayton Douglas
53	13x3460x76	LONG LEGS	M	4	Gary Portelli	72
54	3x413x	LONTRICE	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes	66
55	31013x	LOUD CHARLIE	G	4	Lloyd Kennewell
56	x127592x28	MARETH	M	4	Michael Freedman	76
57	x2211x831x	MATIAS	G	4	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	81
58	32x55x	MEHSUN (IRE)	G	4	Chris Waller
59	0x3150x	MISTER MARTINI	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes	61
60	122x11x	MR MILLER (NZ)	G	4	Chris Waller	82
61	21x	MR SIOUX (IRE)	G	4	Ciaron Maher
62	2634x5311x	MRS FLANDERS	M	4	Kerry Parker	65
63	x228x30x2x	NAPOLEONIC	H	4	John O’Shea & Tom Charlton	106
64	2160x1071x	NAVY PILOT	G	4	Ciaron Maher	90
65	7x10113x4	NIGHT AGENT	G	4	Kris Lees	70
66	1x31215x1x	NINJA	G	4	Michael Freedman	110
67	032x	NORTH DAKOTA	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
68	56x	NORTHY LAD	G	4	Edward Cummings
69	5211141x0x	OHOPE WINS (NZ)	M	4	Chris Waller
70	1521x230x0	OLE DANCER	M	4	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
71	661x	OLE ROYALE	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
72	14x1111x1x	OLIVEANOTHERDAY	G	4	Tom Dabernig
73	537x712x	OVERSHADOW	M	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
74	11x65712x6	PANOVA	M	4	Chris Waller	100
75	3x119x	PASADENA	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes	67
76	213x	PHANTOM MAJOR	H	4	Chris Waller	66
77	157x67222x	PILLOW FIGHT	M	4	Bjorn Baker	78
78	111x12x	PLAINTIFF	M	4	Peter Snowden	89
79	432x226x7x	PLANET RED	G	4	Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr)
80	486x68007x	QUEEN OF CLUBS	M	4	Gary Portelli	70
81	412x73517x	REGAL AWARD	G	4	Phillip & Tommy Stokes
82	6682x5548x	RIVELLINO	H	4	Kris Lees	90
83	120x949x5x	ROMANTIC ENCOUNTER (NZ)	G	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
84	41x111x	ROULETTE KING	G	4	Trevor Rogers
85	1126x82x1x	RUINATION	G	4	Michael Freedman	76
86	x323135x3x	SALTY PEARL	M	4	Ciaron Maher
87	8x2213x	SANTANA	G	4	Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
88	21111x14x	SASS APPEAL	M	4	Danny O’Brien
89	1x25116x	SAVITRI	M	4	Mitchell Freedman
90	12x7x	SAVOYARD	G	4	Cliff Brown
91	13x4120x7x	SAVVY HALLIE	M	4	Brad Widdup	104
92	x81x31100x	SAXOBUSHI	G	4	Kris Lees
93	311x111x2x	SHEZA ALIBI	M	4	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman	118
94		SIHAYA (NZ)	M	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
95	1x1L66x	SIRAGUSA	G	4	Annabel & Rob Archibald	64
96	15x113185x	SIXTIES	H	4	Chris Waller	100
97	x7416x581x	SKIRMISH	M	4	Kerry Parker	63
98	345x46121x	SKYHOOK	H	4	Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou	103
99	416x89155x	SO REBELLIOUS	H	4	Gary Portelli	63
100	1x1242565x	SOVERATO (NZ)	M	4	Chris Waller
101	4x41x352x	STEALTHFIRE (NZ)	G	4	Chris Waller	64
102	4121513x5x	STORM LEOPARD	G	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes	86
103	15x1108x	STUNG	M	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
104	128x42311x	SURF’S UP	M	4	Chris Waller	84
105	0x	TICKELOVA	M	4	Kris Lees
106		TREMONT (NZ)	G	4	Ben, Will & JD Hayes
107	116×1	VEYEPEE	G	4	Anthony & Sam Freedman
108	15x1870x5x	VIA FLAMINIA (NZ)	M	4	Kris Lees
109	31x3489x9x	VICTORIOUS SPIRIT	G	4	Peter G Moody & Katherine Coleman
110	111111x	WELL WRITTEN	M	4	Stephen Marsh
111	97x5x3276x	WITHIN THE LAW	M	4	Bjorn Baker
112	127x	YOURE NOT THE KING	G	4	Bjorn Baker

Table Credit: Racing Australia.

The Golden Eagle History

The Golden Eagle was first run in 2019 and won by the classy Chris Waller-trained Kolding who came off a lead-up Epsom Handicap win. Kolding would go on to win the following year’s George Main Stakes (2020) as well as the All Aged Stakes in 2021.

In its second running, the Godolphin-raced mare Colette won The Golden Eagle in 2020 when the race took place on a Heavy (9) track.

The favourites finally saluted in the third running with I’m Thunderstruck ($3.50 in 2021) too good for his rivals late.

The 2022 The Golden Eagle prize money was boosted to $10 million and the field size boosted at the eleventh hour to accommodate 20 starters.

In 2023 the Japanese were on top with Obamburumai saluting.

The UK raider Lake Forest went back-to-back for the internationals in 2024.

In 2025 the Golden Eagle moved from Rosehill to Royal Randwick and was won by Autumn Glow.

In 2026 the Golden Eagle race was upgraded to Group 1 status.

Past The Golden Eagle Winners

Previous The Golden Eagle winners going back to the race’s inauguration in 2019 are detailed below.

Year	Place	Horse	Time
2026 The Golden Eagle	1st	TBD	TBD
	2nd	TBD
	3rd	TBD
2025 The Golden Eagle	1st	Autumn Glow	1 minute 29.72 seconds
	2nd	Sepals
	3rd	Evaporate
2024 The Golden Eagle	1st	Lake Forest	1 minute 27.98 seconds
	2nd	Lazzat
	3rd	Tom Kitten
2023 The Golden Eagle	1st	Obamburumai	1 minute 29.26 seconds
	2nd	Pericles
	3rd	Golden Mile
2022 The Golden Eagle	1st	I Wish I Win	1 minute 28.19 seconds
	2nd	Fangirl
	3rd	Gypsy Goddess
2021 The Golden Eagle	1st	I’m Thunderstruck	1 minute 27.90 seconds
	2nd	Count De Rupee
	3rd	Vangelic
2020 The Golden Eagle	1st	Colette	1 minute 32.67 seconds
	2nd	Icebath
	3rd	Dawn Passage
2019 The Golden Eagle	1st	Kolding	1 minute 28.28 seconds
	2nd	Sunlight
	3rd	Mizzy