Ultimate form guide for $7.5m Golden Eagle

A field of 18 will tackle the race, with three runners - Laws Of Indices, Maxmial and Reve De Vol - adding intrigue by having their first start in Australia.Catch all the action from the Melbourne Spring Carnival LIVE on Racing.com, available on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >Check out the runner-by-runner analysis provided by the experts at punters.com.au.1. PRIVATE EYEThe Joe Pride gelding has a wide draw but it’s of little concern given his pattern, provided they’re making ground. He came from last at the 400m in the Epsom, sweeping down the extreme outside to knock off Aramayo and Dalasan. He got in with the light weight in the Epsom, but he’s not poorly off here either under set weights, entering as the highest-rated runner. Big chance again if the track is fair. 2. I’M THUNDERSTRUCKI’m Thunderstruck emerged as a potential star during the winter and has delivered on that promise so far in two runs back from a short spell. He was stiff not to have won the Sir Rupert Clark. The outside barrier saw him settle last, before making his run out wide. He copped a big bump at the 300m, but was able to pick himself back up and charge late for third. The Toorak worked out much better for him, getting into the clear at the 250m and finishing over the top of Tofane. The midfield draw is perfect for him. 3. AEGONHe’s had one start at the track for a dominant victory, claiming the G2 Hobartville by just under 2L in what was his first start in Aus. At that stage he held a record of five starts for five wins. Since then he’s been out of the placings in four starts. He put in a decent run in the G1 Memsie two-back when fourth behind Behemoth. He dropped right out in the G1 Makybe Diva last start and was found to have blood in one nostril post-race. Happy to forgive the run, but he hasn’t been helped here with the draw. 4. APACHE CHASEIt’s been two starts for two wins this campaign for Apache Chase. He thumped his rivals last start at Eagle Farm over 1400m, defeating Emerald Kingdom by 1.5L with a gap of 2.25L to third. Emerald Kingdom did fail in Sydney last week, but I wouldn’t read too much into that. During the winter he finished 0.75L off Private Eye in the Qld Guineas before knocking off Ayrton in the Fred Best. He makes his own luck out in front and a firm track suits. 5. AYSARThe son of Deep Field put in a big run as a $61 chance in the Sir Rupert Clarke, sitting wide without cover for much of the trip due to a bad barrier and stuck on well for fourth behind Sierra Sue. That performance saw him sent around favourite for a Listed race at Flemington. He was OK there, but didn’t quite finish the race off under 59.5kg. He’ll go forward but will need some luck to slot in from barrier 15 and appears to be a couple of lengths below this level. Horse deaths6. AIMHe’s very good on his day but can mix his form. A firm track is a must, which he does look to get on Saturday. The Snowden gelding enters the race off a win in the Silver Eagle. He was one that wasn’t too badly affected by the incident at the top of the straight before charging home to run the fastest 400m-200m and 200m to finish, defeating Ellsberg by 0.12L. He finished seventh in the G3 Fred Best behind Apache Chase during the winter where he was sent around as an $18 chance, with Apache Chase at $11. He’ll get a solid tempo here. 7. AMISH BOYHe stretched out to a mile last spring when sixth in the Caulfield Guineas, but since then has been kept to seven furlongs or shorter. He hasn’t won since a MM 2YO Classic race in Adelaide over 18 months ago, but has had a number of good performances including a third in the G1 Newmarket. In the Fred Best during the winter he came from last at the top of the straight to get within 0.3L of Apache Chase on the line. The final 100m is the query. 8. EXOBOOM He returned to form last week, taking out the Filante Hcp at Randwick by 0.42L after a forgive run in the Silver Eagle. This is a much harder task than what he faced last Saturday but he’s open to further improvement. 9. ELLSBERGHe’ll roll forward from the inside draw. He’s shown this campaign he doesn’t have to lead and can camp on the back of Vangelic and Apache Chase. It was a big effort in the Silver Eagle last start, copping interference at the top of the straight which saw him pushed wide before recovering to fight out the finish with Aim. The last time he was at this track and trip he ran second to Kirwan’s Lane in a BM88 where there was a gap of almost 7L to the rest of the field. 10. LOVE TAPHe returned to the winners’ circle two-back over this trip at Kembla Grange, taking out a BM78 by 1.3L. He stayed at this distance last time out here in the G2 Shannon Stakes where he had his chance, but didn’t quite finish it off. He’s drawn to get a great run here just off the speed, but he’ll need to lift on his effort in the Shannon. 11. COUNT DE RUPEEThe Real Impact gelding was beaten 5L by Apache Chase when he headed up to Brisbane during the winter to contest the G3 Fred Best, but he looks to have improved a fair bit since then. He was dominant first-up at Kembla, albeit not in the strongest BM88, taking out the 1200m race by 2L. He went enormous in the Silver Eagle. He copped the worst of the interference at the top of the straight, taken right off the track, but he finished off strongly once balanced again for third. This is his first go beyond 1400m, but he’s drawn beautifully. 12. LAWS OF INDICESExpect Tommy Berry will ride for a bit of luck from the wide draw and try and slot in somewhere in the first 6-8 horses. He went forward in his recent G1 victory in France where he held off Thunder Moon by a head over seven furlongs. It was a bit of a shock win, sent out at $30. The form out of the race is a bit patchy, but he was also just 1L off A Case Of You at G3 level earlier in the year, with that horse a recent G1 victor, and was 2.7L off Poetic Flare in the 2000 Guineas trial. The form looks strong enough, but he’ll need the luck early. cup covid13. MAXIMALThe son of Galileo has run into a couple of handy ones at this past two starts over a mile. He finished fourth to Poetic Flare during the Royal Ascot carnival in the G1 St James Palace. He then finished runner-up at Listed level at Newmarket, 4L adrift of Baaeed. The winner has since gone bang, bang, bang, the last two wins coming at G1 level. He’s certainly got the right form lines, but he’s got the wrong barrier. He’s going to need a hell of a lot of luck from the outside draw. 14. REVE DE VOLThe third of the imports having their first start in Aus. He fared better at the barrier draw than the other two, coming up with gate 7. He doesn’t bring in quite as strong form though. He was a winner at Listed level in Ireland three-back, while he was runner-up at G3 level last time out at the Curragh over 2012m. He’s likely to settle around midfield. 15. FORBIDDEN LOVEIt’s been a bit of a mixed bag from Forbidden Love this campaign. She’s on the back-up after a solid run last week when third behind Icebath. She got a good run just off the speed there and will need some luck this time, having drawn out wide. A key to her chances is having a bit of sting out of the track, but that looks unlikely given the forecast. 16. VANGELICThe Waterhouse/Bott mare was able to find the front in last week’s The Invitation before she was joined by Entriviere mid-race. She battled on OK to run fifth, beaten 1.7L by Icebath. She should give a decent sight, it’s just whether she’s quite got the class to be winning this. 17. MEDIA AWARDTrainer Chris Calthorpe would’ve been pleased with what he saw from his star mare in her first-up run last week, finishing eighth, beaten 3L in The Invitation. She gets the extra 100m here, but the 1500m might still be a bit sharp in this class for her. 18. ATISHUIt’s been a good first preparation with Chris Waller for the former Kiwi-trained mare, winning twice which saw her tested at G1 level in the Epsom. She settled just off the speed and looked a chance as she made her run with Dalasan at the 200m. She didn’t quite finish it off, dropping back to sixth, beaten 1.78L. She’ll need to find a couple of lengths here and it’s likely she’ll have to be ridden cold given the draw. The blinkers are going on for the first time. Emergencies19. KIKU (EM)The Waller mare finished 2.07L off Ellsberg first-up over 1400m before running third over a mile in the G3 Angst. The awful draw will make it tough for her if she gains a start. 20. OUR PLAYBOY (EM)Never in it last start behind Apache Chase and his record on good tracks (10:0-0-0) doesn’t instil much confidence. 21. WHEELHOUSE (EM)He was solid last first-up over the sprint trip in the Sydney Stakes when seventh behind Big Parade. Unlikely to gain a start and this looks too tough. 22. BLONDEAU (EM)Decent run in the Silver Eagle, finishing fourth behind Aim. He’d need to find a couple of lengths though and he’s probably 100/1 get a start as fourth emergency. Verdict9. Ellsberg2. I’m Thunderstruck4. Apache Chase11. Count De Rupee$100 Betting Strategy $35 e/w on Ellsberg$30 boxed quinella 2,4,9,11This story first appeared on punters.com.au and was reproduced with permission Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au