2021 Silver Eagle – tips, preview and runner by runner

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

With the early scratching of Our Playboy, emergency Kiku will get a start and there will be a full field of 14 runners for the $500,000 The Silver Eagle. Six are last-start winners and there are three stallions, nine geldings and two mares. Trainers Peter & Paul Snowden, Richard & Michael Freedman, Kris Lees, and Chris Waller all have two runners each. Four runners had their last start over 1100m at Randwick on 18 September and two over 1400m at Rosehill on 25 September. The rest all came through different races.

The early favourite is Ellsberg who has four wins and five places from 10 starts and was a winner over 1400m at Rosehill last start. Second favourite is Count De Rupee who comes off a 1200m win at the Rosehill at Kembla Grange meeting on 11 September. Third favourite is mare Vangelic who won the Group 2 Golden Pendant over 1400m last start, making her the only Group 2 winner in the field (there are no Group 1 winners).

Equation resumed on 18 September to finish 4 lengths 9th over 1100m at Randwick and has won four of his six starts. Amish Boy finished 2.8 lengths 9th in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clark Stakes last outing. High Supremacy resumed for a win over 1400m at Randwick. Prime Star faded to finish 5th in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie last start.  Exoboom finished 3.6 lengths 8th over 1100m at Randwick when resuming, while Kiku resumed for 2 lengths 6th over 1400m at Rosehill.  All other runners are currently 18 to 1 or longer.

1. Our Playboy – SCRATCHED

2. Exoboom

One of two runners for Peter & Paul Snowden. This Exosphere gelding has three wins and five places from 10 starts . Resumed after 16 weeks for 3.6 lengths 8th over 1100m at Randwick on 18 September. Nicely drawn in Barrier 2.

3. Prime Star

One of two runners for Richard & Michael Freedman. He has $1.8 million in prizemoney, more than any other runner, as he won the Inglis Millenium as a two-year-old. At his latest start he was leading at the turn before fading to finish 1.7 lengths 5th in the Group 3 Bill Ritchie Handicap over 1400m at Randwick on 18 September. Starts from the outside barrier. Place chance.

4. Amish Boy

This Star Witness stallion trained by Ciaron Maher & David Eustace has only had one win but has placed nine times from his 18 Starts. He finished 2nd in The Heath 1100 over 1100m at Caulfield on 28 August, then finished 2.8 lengths 9th in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400m at Caulfield on 18 September. There were some very smart horses in that race and he could feature here.

5. Aim

Resumes here from a 19 week spell. His only first-up win in four campaigns was as a two-year-old. Prefer others.

6. Ellsberg

Trained by Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou, this Spill The Beans stallion has four wins and five places from 10 starts. He resumed after 15 weeks for a 0.3 length win over 1400m at Rosehill on 25 September. Likes to lead or box seat and is one of the main chances.

7. Triple Ace

One of two runners for Kris Lees. He has always been in the trifecta with six wins and six places from 12 starts. He was held up from the 350m to 250m before finishing a length 2nd over 1200m at the Rosehill at Keembla Grange meeting on 28 August, then he took over at the 300m and went clear for a 0.4 length win over 1100m at Randwick on 18 September, beating three other of the runners here. Amongst the chances.

8. Count De Rupee

This Real Impact gelding is trained by Robert & Luke Price and has five wins and five places from 12 starts.  At his latest start he chased hard to find the front at the 220m and raced away for an impressive win over 1200m at Rosehill at Kembla Grange on 11 September . He had the best last 600m Race Sectional and looks a key player here.

9. Tramonto

All 15 of his races have been in Queensland, where he has three wins and seven places. He ran 0.4 length 2nd in the Listed Goldmarket Quality Handicap over 1200m at Gold Coast, then 0.4 length 2nd over 1200m at Gold Coast on 18 September, Trained by Jonny Field at Bundall. Not the worst.

10. Blondeau

One of two runners for Chris Waller, this I Am Invincible gelding has four wins and eight places from 19 starts. Finished 0.4 lengths 2nd to Triple Ace at Randwick last start.

11. Equation

This Annabel Neasham trained stallion is the most lightly raced runner in the field but has won four of his six starts. Resumed from a 27 week spell for 4 lengths 9th behind Triple Ace at Randwick on 18 September. Should go well second-up. Place chance.

12. High Supremacy

Has the inside barrier. Resumed after 18 weeks for an impressive win over 1400m at Randwick on 18 September with the best overall race sectionals. Don’t dismiss.

13. Sammy

This Kris Lees runner has won his last two races in a row at Newcastle over distances of 1300m and 1250m. Has three wins and six places from 12 starts. Sneaky chance.

14. Vangelic

One of the two mares in the race, she won the Group 2 Golden Pendant over 1400m at Rosehill on 25 September. The Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott stable is really firing at the moment and she should be in the finish.

15e. Kiku

With four wins and four places from 10 starts this Zoustar mare clearly has ability. She resumed from a 22 week spell or 2.1 lengths 6th behind Ellsberg over 1400m ar Rosehill. Generally goes well 2nd up and could place.

The following are the top 4 selections for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
6 Ellsberg
14 Vangelic
8 Count De Rupee
15 Kiku

Result	Horse	Margin
1st	5 Aim
2nd	6 Ellsberg	0.12 length
3rd	8 Count De Rupee	0.6 length
4th	10 Blondeau	1.19 lengths

The track was rated as Good 3.

Scratchings: 1. Our Playboy, 15. Kiku.