The Golden Eagle - From Kolding to Autumn Glow, Reliving Every Edition

Alex Marsh

Editor

Last updated: Thu. 29 Oct. 2026 08:42

Alex Marsh 4 hours ago

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Relive every Golden Eagle winner since the race's inaugural running in 2019
From Kolding to Autumn Glow, revisit seven memorable editions of the Sydney feature
Watch race replays and revisit the defining performances, thrilling finishes and historic victories

Kolding wins the inaugural Golden Eagle under Glen Boss at Rosehill on November 2, 2019. (Getty)

The Golden Eagle is set for its eighth running at Royal Randwick on Saturday, October 31, 2026, having quickly established itself as one of Australia's most valuable races and a major spring target for the country's leading four-year-olds.

The 2025 Golden Eagle - Autumn Glow
The 2024 Golden Eagle - Lake Forest
The 2023 Golden Eagle - Obamburumai
The 2022 Golden Eagle - I Wish I Win
The 2021 Golden Eagle - I'm Thunderstruck
The 2020 Golden Eagle - Colette
The 2019 Golden Eagle - Kolding

Introduced in 2019 with $7.5 million in prizemoney, the 1500m contest has grown into a $10 million feature, producing an honour roll that includes Kolding, I'm Thunderstruck, I Wish I Win and unbeaten superstar Autumn Glow.

International runners have also left their mark, with Japan's Obamburumai and Britain's Lake Forest recording consecutive victories in 2023 and 2024, before Autumn Glow returned the prize to Australian connections last year.

Ahead of the 2026 renewal, which marks the race's first running at Group 1 level, we revisit all seven previous editions, celebrating the winners, remarkable performances and defining moments behind The Golden Eagle's rapid rise, while a gallery of all seven winners can be played above.

The 2025 Golden Eagle - Autumn Glow

Autumn Glow confirmed her standing as one of Australian racing's most exciting talents with a commanding victory in the first Golden Eagle staged at Royal Randwick, extending her unbeaten record to eight-from-eight.

The Chris Waller-trained mare justified her $1.75 favouritism under James McDonald, overcoming rain-affected conditions to defeat Sepals and Evaporate in 1:29.72 and give her trainer a second victory in the $10 million feature.

The 2024 Golden Eagle - Lake Forest

British raider Lake Forest delivered another international triumph in The Golden Eagle, producing a spectacular late finish to snatch victory from French sprinter Lazzat in the final strides at Rosehill.

Prepared by William Haggas and ridden by Cieren Fallon, the colt saved ground along the inside before bursting through to defeat Lazzat and Tom Kitten, becoming the second consecutive overseas-trained winner of the race.

The 2023 Golden Eagle - Obamburumai

Japan's Obamburumai made history by becoming the first internationally trained winner of The Golden Eagle, producing a breathtaking finish to claim the $10 million prize in dramatic circumstances.

Trained by Keiji Yoshimura and partnered by Sydney jockey Josh Parr, the Japanese colt threaded his way between runners in the closing stages to defeat the Godolphin pair Pericles and Golden Mile, announcing himself as one of the most memorable international visitors of the Sydney spring.

The 2022 Golden Eagle - I Wish I Win

I Wish I Win completed an extraordinary transformation from New Zealand prospect to one of Australia's most exciting gallopers, capturing The Golden Eagle in just his third appearance for trainer Peter Moody.

Ridden by Luke Nolen, the son of Savabeel produced a powerful finishing burst to defeat Fangirl and Gypsy Goddess in the first $10 million edition, rewarding connections for targeting the lucrative four-year-old feature following his arrival in Australia.

The 2021 Golden Eagle - I'm Thunderstruck

I'm Thunderstruck continued his remarkable rise through the ranks with a thrilling victory in The Golden Eagle, adding another major spring prize to his record after winning the Group 1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield.

Prepared by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr, the gelding unleashed a brilliant late finish under Hugh Bowman to run down Count De Rupee, with Vangelic finishing third, becoming the first favourite to win the race.

The 2020 Golden Eagle - Colette

Colette demonstrated her versatility and toughness by claiming the second edition of The Golden Eagle on a Heavy 9 track at Rosehill, adding another major achievement to a campaign that had already delivered victory in the Australian Oaks.

The James Cummings-trained Godolphin mare, ridden by Koby Jennings, powered through the testing conditions to defeat Icebath and Dawn Passage, providing one of the standout performances of the rain-affected Sydney spring.

The 2019 Golden Eagle - Kolding

Kolding etched his name into Australian racing history as the inaugural winner of The Golden Eagle, completing a remarkable spring campaign that had already included victory in the Group 1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick.

Trained by Chris Waller and ridden by Glen Boss, the four-year-old gelding found a passage through the field before finishing strongly to defeat Sunlight and Mizzy, establishing the credentials of the new $7.5 million event from its very first running.