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By Ray Hickson

Champion trainer Chris Waller has thrown his support behind the elevation of the Golden Eagle to Group 1 status and is likely to point his star colt Autumn Boy in that direction later in the spring.

And he says the valuable Group 1 status will provide a significant lure for connections of rising four-year-old entires to think twice before sending them to stud.

That makes the $10 million race, the only Group 1 in Australia exclusively for four-year-olds, even more attractive.

“Racing NSW have invested in prizemoney and it’s not about the races being worth more money, it’s the value it brings,'' he said.

"Firstly, it creates hype for the raceday and, secondly, the value it puts on bloodstock.

“A Group 1 race, I’d be interested if someone could quantify what one is worth. It’s probably worth tens of millions of dollars to bloodstock alone.

“There might be some colts that hang around for a Golden Eagle and that’s what we want, we want the top horses to stay racing longer. So it’s a big deal.”

Last year's Golden Eagle winner Autumn Glow heads a star studded line up at Friday's Randwick trials (Pic: Bradley Photos).

The race was awarded Group 1 status by the Asian Pattern Committee, among a host of Sydney races either upgraded or handed Group or Listed status, last week after they took over the classification of Australian races back in December.

Of course Waller won the Eagle last year with superstar Autumn Glow, he won the inaugural edition with Kolding, and to date no Australian trained entires have won the race.

Japanese galloper Obamburumai and UK raider Lake Forest are the only entires to win the Golden Eagle.

Autumn Glow and Autumn Boy, last seen running second in the Doncaster Mile, will be among the headline acts at Friday’s Randwick barrier trials in what will be a typically soft launch in the 900m heats.

Waller will also roll out the likes of Aeliana, Lady Shenandoah, Ohope Wins, Barnavara, Wootton Verni, Soul Of Spain and Soulcombe.

It’s still early days as far as confirming her ultimate spring target but it’s expected Autumn Glow will resume in the Group 1 Winx Stakes (1400m) next month and that could mean Aeliana starts her spring in Melbourne.

“It’s that time of the year again, it’s been a busy month preparing the horses,’’ Waller said.

“It’s probably our busiest time to get things right and make sure everything is ready to go. I think their pre-training is more important than their fine tuning.

“They both had a gallop (Saturday) morning. James (McDonald) has been coming in and riding them alternately, he’s had a sit on most of them already.

“Aeliana could easily go to a Memsie, because I would like to keep them apart.”

Lady Shenandoah didn’t add to her three Group 1s in her four-year-old season but Waller says she is the one who has taken the greatest leap in her break.

The mare record five placings in her eight starts this season, two at Group 1 level, and finished midfield in the TAB Everest.

“If I was to nominate a horse that’s really matured it’s her,’’ he said.

“You would have seen her sweat up a few times first-up, get on her toes, but she’s matured.”

Waller said Coolmore Classic winner Lazzura is a little bit behind some of her stablemates and will likely be kept to a sprinting preparation.

And Joliestar is due home on Monday after her close third at Royal Ascot and Waller has a similar plan into the TAB Everest he used with Nature Strip a few years ago.

“She would most likely go to the Shorts,’’ he said.

“I haven’t spoken to the Lindsays (her owners) yet but I’d be pushing for the Shorts and four weeks into the Everest. She runs so well fresh.

“Obviously Ka Ying Rising puts a dent in everyone’s expectations. I used to always talk Winx up to scare people away but anything can go wrong.”

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