New Zealand-bred galloper Kolding is on song for the A$7.5 million Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill on Saturday, according to jockey Glen Boss.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding has won two of his three starts this campaign, including his last start heroics in the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m), but it was his 1030m trial at Rosehill last week that really has Boss fizzing.
“I had the opportunity to trial him last week and I felt that he has come on since the Epsom,” he said.
“Physically he looked amazing, but mentally he just felt really on the job. He gave me all the right signs as a jockey, going towards a major race, that you want to see and feel.”
Boss is unbeaten on the son of Ocean Park after piloting him to victories in the Gr.3 Bill Ritchie Handicap (1400m) and Epsom, and he has taken a lot of confidence from the form that has come out of the latter race.
Runner-up Te Akau Shark was impressive when running third in the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) on Saturday, while Nettoyer has subsequently won the Gr.3 Angst Stakes (1600m).
“This will be his fourth run in this prep, so he should do nothing but improve. He’s just a good, genuine racehorse,” Boss said.
“He’s been a revelation since he has been gelded. He is one of our better four-year-olds now and that form (in The Epsom) has been franked. There has been a lot of good form to come out of the Epsom this year.
“He is going to be pretty popular on the weekend, but he’s going to have to go up a notch because this is a really serious race.”
While Boss is confident in his charge, he is wary of a 7kg rise in weight from Kolding’s Epsom run.
“This is probably going to be a stronger race than the Epsom and the weight difference is a big thing,” Boss said.
“Brutal is getting closer to his better distance now and Arcadia Queen is definitely getting towards her distance. It is going to be a really intriguing race and I am really looking forward to it.”
Kolding will jump from barrier four and has been installed as a $5-equal second favourite with fellow Kiwi-bred galloper Brutal (barrier 17) by bookmakers, while Arcadia Queen (barrier five), to be ridden by James McDonald, has been marked as a $2.80 favourite for the inaugural running of the Golden Eagle.
Kolding was purchased out of Wentwood Grange’s 2017 Premier Yearling Sale draft for $170,000 by bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster.
