Why a $10k bargain buy is avoiding another in the $10m Golden Eagle

Craig KerryOctober 28, 2026 — 5:00pmGate one was not enough to convince young Kembla Grange trainer Joe Ible to have a crack at the $10 million Golden Eagle (1500m) – and fellow bargain buy Sheza Alibi – with Barrengarry at Randwick on Saturday.Ible was at the Golden Eagle barrier draw on Tuesday night after nominating Barrengarry for the group 1 feature for four-year-olds and two other races on the program.Zac Lloyd takes Barrengarry to victory in the Midway handicap on Golden Slipper day in March. Dylan Gibbons rides on Saturday.Getty ImagesA $10,000 buy for Ible which has pocketed $226,600, Barrengarry was $101 (TAB) for the Golden Eagle after finishing runner-up last start in a benchmark 88 handicap over 2000m and winning three times in Midway grade.Despite the inside draw, Ible and connections decided on Wednesday to instead race in the listed $750,000 Sydney Gold Cup (2000m), traditionally the Rosehill Gold Cup.“It’s a little different to a regular week,” said Ible, who has about 25 horses in work and has never had a group 1 runner.“We drew nice barriers for him in all races. The Gold Cup has always been an appealing target, but we thought we’d have a look at the Golden Eagle, being as they are only four once and it’s a big-money race.Sheza Alibi races away from Autumn Boy in the Randwick Guineas on March 7.Getty Images“But when you get home and you look at the strength of the field, he probably wasn’t a realistic winning chance, but he can be in the Gold Cup.“It’s a tough race to ignore, but we’ve got a really nice winning chance in the other race, and it should help his long-term progress as well.“The distance was the other factor, I guess, having him in a 1500m when he’s probably more suited to 2000m.“We went there with an open mind and I pulled one out of the barrier, and we really had to sit down and talk it over today to see which way we went.”Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained Federalist was also scratched from the Golden Eagle on Wednesday and will spell, cutting the field to 16.Star mare Sheza Alibi was $1.90 after drawing ideally in six for owner Fred Noffke and Victorian trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman.Noffke, who paid just $10,000 online for Sheza Alibi as a weanling, was pleased to draw out six for his three-time group 1 winner after having only that and 10 left in the barrel. Sheza Alibi has already earned more than $4.5 million on the track and can pick up another $4.725 million on Saturday.Chris Waller-trained multiple group 1 winners Beiwacht ($7) and Autumn Boy ($9) were the next best in the market after drawing 10 and five respectively.From our partners