RAILS DRAW “VERY TEMPTING” FOR A GOLDEN EAGLE TILT
TO race for $750,000 or $10 million?
It’s fair to say the decision would be a “no brainer” for the majority – and Joe Ible says it’s “very tempting” to go the same way and vote “yes”.
For starters the Kembla Grange trainer didn’t think his talented four-year-old Barrengarry would make the field for the $10m Golden Eagle (1500m) at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
He accepted of course, but was initially more focused on the $750,000 Sydney (previously Rosehill) Gold Cup at 2000m the same day.
And he had already booked a new jockey.
To Ible’s surprise, Barrengarry did make the final line-up of 18 for the much richer event against his own age.
And then things took a decided turn for the better.
Ible attended the barrier draw in Sydney last night for the Golden Eagle, and pulled a rabbit out of the hat when he plucked marble No 1 out of the barrel.
“I came to the function thinking that if I drew barriers one to four, it would be very tempting to run in the Golden Eagle,” Ible said.
“Barrengarry has shown me this preparation that he is a good quality horse.
“He has been drawing out, racing wide and still beating his rivals, admittedly in weaker class.
“Barrengarry has been crying out for an inside draw. Now that he has that, there is a lot of thinking to do.
“But it’s very tempting for sure to give him a crack at a $10m race.”
Before making a final decision, Ible is waiting to see how the Sydney Gold Cup field shapes up today morning, and how Barrengarry draws.
“Barrengarry’s last run when narrowly beaten by Anthracite (who won again at Randwick last Saturday) was terrific, and he has trained on well,” Ible added.
Whereas Alysha Collett is on standby for the Golden Eagle if Barrengarry goes there, Ible was forced into seeking a new rider for the Sydney Gold Cup.
Zac Lloyd has partnered the son of Ghaiyyath in six of his eight career starts – and has been aboard in all four of his wins.
“I did nominate Barrengarry also for a 2000m Benchmark 78 Handicap on Saturday, and Zac took another mount in the Gold Cup,” Ible said.
“So I have booked Dylan Gibbons.
“Dylan has never ridden for me, but he is riding very well and was a recent Group 1 winner (Flight Stakes at Randwick on Global Goal on October 3).”
Irrespective of which race Barrengarry contests, it will be only Ible’s second chance to win a lucrative prizemoney race.
He ran the unplaced Sepulchre in the $1m Magic Millions Stayers’ Trophy (2400m) at the Gold Coast in 2022 not long after she had scored over 2000m at Rosehill Gardens on a heavy track.
Whilst Barrengarry getting a berth in the Golden Eagle was a pleasant surprise, Ible is resigned to missing out on the $500,000 Four Pillars Midway (a 1500m Benchmark 68 Handicap) on Saturday with his smart mare Cabbucio.
She is well down the order of entry list; 31st prior to this morning acceptances, and 18 can run with provision for four emergencies.
Though he will accept with Cabbucio, he has another plan if she doesn’t make the field.
“Cabbucio will run in an 1800m Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap at Randwick next Saturday,” he said.
‘Of course it would be disappointing to miss out on a $500,000 race, but I feel the 1800m next week will better suit Cabbucio.”
A lightly-raced four-year-old daughter of Too Darn Hot, Cabbucio has won twice and never finished further back than fourth (on debut at Goulburn in September last year) from her seven starts.
She was placed twice at her home track at her first two starts this preparation before a late closing third in a 1600m Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap at Randwick on October 3.
Ible kept her up to the mark with a 1000m trial at Hawkesbury on October 20 when she finished third to Coyote.
Ible also was pleased with stablemate Common Goal’s first-up fourth to fellow Kembla Grange trainer Kerry Parker’s Let’s Go Again in a 1200m Midway Benchmark 72 Handicap at Randwick last Saturday.
“There a couple of suitable Midways coming up for him,” he said.
“I have some nice horses at present; really the best stable I’ve had.”
HOOFNOTE: Whilst Ible couldn’t have done better with Barrengarry’s inside barrier, leading Newcastle trainer Kris Lees didn’t fare so well with the other two provincial runners in the Golden Eagle.
Stablemates Rivellino (Gibbons) and Night Agent (Tom Sherry) drew barriers 12 and 13 respectively.
TAB.com.au halved Barrengarry’s quote from $201 to $101 when he came up with the inside barrier. Rivellino is at the same quote, and Night Agent is at $201.
STORY JOHN CURTIS, OCTOBER 28, 2026 - PICS BRADLEY PHOTOS
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