Australia: Classy Light Infantry invades from Europe in $6.5 million Golden Eagle Stakes

Light Infantry, second in consecutive Group 1 races in Deauville, France, in July and August, will be favored to win his Australian debut in the $6.5 million Golden Eagle Stakes at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney on Friday evening across American time zones.

The Golden Eagle Stakes, launched only in 2019, is run at 7 1/2 furlongs for Southern Hemisphere 4-year-olds. Light Infantry is a 3-year-old in the Northern Hemisphere, but recognized as a 4-year-old in Australia.

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The Golden Eagle is the second-richest race in Australia. The $9.3 million Everest Stakes for sprinters was run earlier this month. The Group 1 Melbourne Cup, the country’s most famous race, will be run on Monday evening across American time zones and is worth $5.01 million this year.

Light Infantry has won 2 of 5 starts. He was second by 1 1/4 lengths to Tenebrism at 27-1 in the Prix Jean Prat for 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on July 10, and was second by neck to Inspiral in the Prix Jacques Le Marois at a mile on Aug. 14 at 23-1.

Trainer David Simcock said after the loss in the Prix Jacques Le Marois that the Golden Eagle was a target. For the Golden Eagle, Light Infantry is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.

Jamie Spencer, who has ridden Light Infantry in all five of his starts, has the mount.

The Golden Eagle will have a full field of 20. Light Infantry was 2-1 in early betting, a standout selection considering the size of the field.

The filly Chain of Lightning is considered Australia’s leading hope. A winner of 6 of 7 starts, Chain of Lightning (7-1) won the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at seven furlongs at Caulfield Racecourse on Oct. 15 in her final prep for trainer Peter Moody.

Chain of Lightning, who will be ridden by Jamie Kah, tends to run from off the pace.

Rosehill Gardens has a 10-race program beginning at 9:10 p.m. Eastern or 6:10 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

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In the preceding race, Lost and Running will be a strong favorite to win for the 10th time in his 17th start in the $1.94 million Nature Strip Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs. The race is named in honor of the active sprinter who won the Group 1 King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot in England in June and was Australia’s Horse of the Year for the 2019-20 and 2021-22 seasons.

Nature Strip was fourth in the Everest Stakes as the 9-10 favorite on Oct. 15 and is not part of the race bearing his name.

Lost and Running was 8-5 in a field of 12 that includes the well-regarded Mazu, who was third in the Everest Stakes.

Flemington preview

This could be a busy couple of days for the Irish-bred gelding Makram.

Makram starts in the Group 3 Archer Stakes at 1 9/16 miles at Flemington Racecourse on Friday evening across American time zones. A win against 14 rivals would give Makram an automatic berth to the Melbourne Cup at two miles on Monday evening.

There are four other runners in the field needing a win in the Archer to gain berths in the Melbourne Cup – Chapada, Interpretation, King of the Castle, and Serpentine, the winner of the 2020 English Derby. The Melbourne Cup will have a field of 24 and those five runners are all currently ranked outside of the guaranteed positions.

The 24th horse on the Melbourne Cup list, the 6-year-old mare Realm of Flowers, needs a win in the Archer to secure a spot and prevent one of the lower-rated runners from taking her berth.

The Archer favorite is Surefire, who is not a candidate for the Melbourne Cup. Surefire was second by a length in the Group 3 Geelong Cup at 1 1/2 miles on Oct. 19.

Makram and Realm of Flowers were both 5-1 on Thursday morning.

Makram was third in the Geelong Cup, beaten 3 3/4 lengths. Realm of Flowers was third by a nose in the Group 1 Metropolitan Handicap at 1 1/2 miles at Royal Randwick Racecourse in Sydney on Oct. 1.

There are three consecutive Group 1 races later on the nine-race Flemington program, which consists entirely of stakes and begins at 9:20 p.m. Eastern.

Jacquinot and In Secret were first and second in the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill Gardens at seven furlongs on Sept. 24 and head the betting for the $1.29 million Coolmore Stud Stakes at six furlongs for 3-year-olds.

In Secret was the 3-1 favorite on Thursday over 5-1 Jacquinot, who was fifth by 1 1/2 lengths in the Everest.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart and Berkeley Square, major stakes winners on Oct. 22, lead the $1.29 Victorian Derby at 1 9/16 miles.

Sharp ‘N’ Smart has won his last three starts, including the Group 1 Champion Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Randwick last weekend.

Berkeley Square is held in equally high regard having won three of his last four starts, including the Group 2 Vase Stakes at 1 1/4 miles at Moonee Valley on Oct. 22.

The New Zealand star filly La Crique is a heavy favorite at 3-2 in early betting to win her Australian debut in the $647,600 Empire Rose Stakes at a mile for fillies and mares. A winner of 6 of 10 starts, La Crique won the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Stakes in New Zealand on Oct. 8, ending a two-race losing streak.

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