Worth $7.5million, the ATC Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill was the richest race in the country on Saturday, a day that has traditionally belonged to Derby Day at Flemington.
A race restricted to four year-olds, the Golden Eagle drew a mixed field, but the cream rose to the top with last start Group I ATC Epsom Handicap winner Kolding overpowering outstanding Zoustar sprinting mare Sunlight, who was brave to the finish in her first attempt beyond 1200m.
The Chris Waller trained gelding was given a brilliant ride by Glen Boss, who had to extricate him from a pocket before surging to the line to score a long neck win over Sunlight with another Zoustar mare in Mizzy holding third place.
"He's a star," Boss said.
"His form was the best going into the race, I knew I was on the right horse.
"When I got the split at the furlong, I knew I was home because he hadn't done any work. He'd been held up most of the race.
"The race was ridiculously slow, it was almost dangerous. James McDonald (on Arcadia Queen) almost fell beside me it was so slow.
"I'd almost given up to be honest because of the speed in the race. But then you just straight away switch back, you've got a job to do.
"I had nowhere to go - wow he's brave, it was tight and he was willing - wow!"
Purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock for $170,000 out of the Wentwood Grange draft at the 2017 NZB Premier Yearling Sale, Kolding runs for Neville Morgan, who won the first race at Flemington with Kemalpasa (read about him here).
Kolding advances his record eight wins from 15 starts with earnings of $5.1million. He becomes the third stakes-winner out of the Danzero mare Magic Star who was purchased by Kolding's breeder Warren Pegg for $34,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
All seven of Magic Star's foals to reach the track are winners headed by Kolding and then prolific Group II winner Sampson followed by Listed winner Miss Upstart.
She has an unraced 3yo Iffraaj filly named Faye Presto who was purchased for $150,000 by Grahame Begg Racing / Rohan J Hughes Thoroughbred Services at Karaka.
Sadly, Magic Star and her Astern colt foal died last spring.
Kolding has become the flagberarer for his Cox Plate winning sire Ocean Park, who had a stakes double on Saturday as his four year-old daughter Tofane won the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m).
Trained by Mike Moroney, Tofane has won four of nine starts earning over $385,000 and is now a two time Group III winner.
Ocean Park’s sire Thorn Park died prematurely, but had a big impact on the day’s racing as he is also the sire of the dam of Group I VRC Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Exceedance.
An Australian Group I winner by Spinning World (USA) from the Denise’s Joy family, Thorn Park retired to stud at Windsor Park in New Zealand and died at age 13 when he was at the height of his powers leaving us all to wonder just what he might have achieved for the New Zealand breeding industry had he survived a little longer.
