It’s a Golden Eagle graduate quinella!
As it happens, this is the Arrowfield brand on Golden Eagle G1 runner-up Decorum, as an Inglis Easter 2024 yearling! (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)
Arrowfield-bred-&-sold 4YOs Skyhook and Decorum defied their wide draws and double-figure odds to make the inaugural running of the $10 million ATC Golden Eagle at Group 1 level a classic battle of strength, class & courage.
Skyhook prevailed by the barest of margins to claim the $5.25 million first prizemoney and credit for a new 1500-metre track record time of 1:26.64, while Decorum joined his year-younger full brother St Gotthard as a Group 1 runner-up on a marquee day in Sydney & Melbourne. Three-time Group 1 winner Beiwacht was third.
Already a five-time Group winner, Skyhook (Written Tycoon-Madame Pauline by Redoute’s Choice) is the 91st Group 1-winning graduate in Arrowfield’s four-decade history, and one of 7 stakeswinners purchased from the Stud’s Yearling Class of 2024.
Nothing in it! 🥵 Skyhook flies in the G1 Golden Eagle to win in an epic finish! @SchofieldChad @RARacing_ @aus_turf_club https://t.co/iFgK3wryv1
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 31, 2026
Co-trainer Gerald Ryan said after the Golden Eagle, “He’s had a great prep. We set him for the race after he ran in the Golden Rose.
“I said to John Messara, I don’t think he’ll be any good until he’s an Autumn four-year-old, so we’ll see what happens. He’s ahead of schedule.”
Indeed he is. A $575,000 purchase from Arrowfield by the Ryan & Alexiou stable at Magic Millions, Skyhook has earned $6.9 million for a large group of owners including his trainers, Stallion Match and Legacy Thoroughbreds, managed by Arrowfield’s over-the-moon Yearling Manager Dean Macaskill.
Madame Pauline, a three-quarter sister to stakeswinners Anders, Caffe Florian & Ostraka (all out of Madame Andree), foaled a Castelvecchio colt in August and has an early positive test to dual Group 1 winner Tentyris.
Decorum, St Gotthard & Group 1 winner Switzerland are the first three of five Snitzel colts bred by Arrowfield and Matt & Jo Cloros from Ms Bad Behavior (by Blame) who last month foaled a colt by The Autumn Sun and returns to him.
Decorum made $550,000 at Inglis Easter where he was knocked down to TFI which races him with partners including MyRacehorse No. 1, Arrowfield & Cloros Bloostock. Prepared by Michael Freedman for 5 wins and two placings from 9 starts, his prizemoney now exceeds $2.3 million.
Arrowfield graduates have now won 17 Group & Listed Races in the past 8 weeks, including four Group 1 victories by Global Goal, Skyhook & Lady Shenandoah (2).
