I am absolutely thrilled that this is the way that Simon Miller and connections elected to go, and I think that Amelia’s Jewel will be the Golden Eagle winner.

She has always been an above-average horse, but Amelia’s Jewel well and truly began to realise her top-line potential by winning the Group 1 Northerly Stakes late last year.

She was enormous in the inaugural running of The Quokka at Ascot, and after winning her first two starts in Victoria in September, she was very flat in the Toorak Handicap last time out.

That performance actually didn’t bother me much considering I Wish I Win bombed in that same race before winning last year’s Golden Eagle and there’s a chance that this is a better horse.

She’s drawn a peach and I think she’s going to take some beating.

The one that I thought could trouble Amelia’s Jewel in The Golden Eagle is Kiwi raider, Legarto.

Legarto has made only nine appearances at the races since debuting, but she has been absolutely outstanding, winning on seven of those occasions and filling the minors on another.

Having crossed the ditch to win the Australian Guineas back in March, she’s stropped fitter for this race with a couple of smart efforts over in New Zealand and she’ll relish the conditions of The Golden Eagle.

A minor ailment ruined his chances of winning the Epsom Handicap earlier this prep, but I’m confident that Pericles will return another eye-catching performance in Saturday’s Golden Eagle.

He was only of the good things licked of the Autumn Carnival this year when dashing his own chances in the Rosehill Guineas, but Pericles did pick off a Group 2 race during that prep, and he won his first two back this time impressively.

I thought he was good when third, beaten only a length in the Silver Eagle with six weeks between runs, and I’m confident that will have brought his right back on.

Arguably the most intriguing runner in this Golden Eagle field is the Japanese raider, Obaburumai.

Obaburumai has been really good in some strong races in his homeland, winning three of five starts, including the Group 2 KH Nisai Stakes (1400m) and the Group 3 Arlington Stakes (1600m) most notably, while he was last seen filling the minors in Group 1 company.

Japanese raiders have been excellent in Australia throughout the last 20 years, and this bloke certainly looks up to the quality of a Golden Eagle.