CAN LINEBACKER IMPROVE ON THE DISMAL RECORD OF SILVER EAGLE WINNERS IN THE GOLDEN EAGLE?

By Graham Potter | Friday, October 31, 2025

The jump from the Silver Eagle to the Golden Eagle is quite a leap.

Since the inception of these two races back in 2019, no horse who has won the Silver Eagle has gone on the salute in the Golden Eagle. In fact, their record is quite abysmal with no Silver Eagle winner being good enough to even run a place in the Golden Eagle.

So, the Silver Eagle’s winners record in the Golden Eagle leaves much to be desired.

In 2019 The Inevitable finished unplaced 6.10 lengths behind Kolding.
In 2020 Flit finished unplaced 5.00 lengths behind Colette.
In 2021 Aim finished unplaced 17.00 lengths behind I’m Thunderstuck.
In 2022 Vilana finished unplaced 4.80 lengths behind I Wish I Win.
In 2023 Vienna Princess finished unplaced 2.00 lengths behind Obamburumai.
In 2024 Ostraka finished unplaced 5.10 lengths behind Lake Forest.

The question now is … can Linebacker, the 2025 Silver Eagle winner, rewrite the record books?

Firstly, there is no small mountain in the form of the unbeaten Autumn Glow to overcome. The Chris Waller trained daughter of The Autum Son has won seven races on the trot while seemingly never being pushed to the full.

Adding to Autumn Glow’s aura going into the Golden Eagle is the fact she is already a Group 1 winner (The Epsom) … she has already won four times at Randwick … she has won on all of good, soft and heavy going … and she will meet Linebacker (a four-time winner) at level weights.

So, you might already have the answer to the question.

But it’s a bit like Ka Ying Rising’s presence in The Everest. Take the favourite out and it is an open race so, if Autumn Glow should, unusually, miss a beat or finds traffic problems in the running, Linebacker should be one of those ready to pounce.

At least the thinking is he is going to get closer than any other Silver Eagle winner has done before.

“He is in a good head-space,” co-trainer John O’Shea said, speaking on Sky Racing. “Linebacker has a great constitution. He takes plenty of work and he has a great appetite for what he does on race-day. We are lucky to have him.

“I respect Autumn Glow,” continued O’Shea, “and you must always respect any horse coming out of Japan) and he looks way above average, so the Golden Eagle is obviously a more difficult race for Linebacker.” (The Japanese raider Panja Tower will be looking for his third win in a row).

“As far as Linebacker is concerned, The Golden Eagle gets out to a better trip for him (1500m as opposed to the 1300m of the Silver Eagle) and he loves Randwick. (Linebacker won over 1600m at Randwick back in March taking out the Group 1 Randwick Guineas).

“There is plenty to take into account … but we have just got to make certain our preparation goes well so he that he can provide the best version of himself on race-day,” concluded O’Shea.

Autumn Glow will jump as a justifiable short-priced favourite. Linebacker is currently on the second line of betting. Panja Tower is the third favourite.

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