by Renee Geelen & Kit Gow/TTR AusNZThe inaugural running of the A$10-million Golden Eagle as a Group 1 race always promised to be an exciting one, and Skyhook (Written Tycoon) ensured it was a thrilling edition, adding the cherry on top to a spectacular day for breeder Arrowfield Stud and their past and present stallions.The 4-year-old entire had picked up this spring where he left off in the winter with back to back Group 2 wins in the G2 Theo Marks Stakes and the G2 Shannon Stakes, before going down in the Listed Silver Eagle to Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice). However a different horse carrying the Myracehorse silks was his greatest challenger in the Golden Eagle, a race which had long been the target circled for Skyhook by trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou.Skyhook leaped smartly from his wide draw, which he needed to cross the field and take up the running a pair behind the runaway leaders, Beiwacht (Bivouac) and Apocalyptic. The entire bided his time until the top of the home straight, charging past a fading Apocalyptic to challenge Beiwacht – with Decorum (Snitzel) hot on his heels.Beiwacht fought valiantly to keep up his lead, but couldn't match the turn of foot demonstrated by the pair, who fought all the way to the line, where Skyhook pipped Decorum by a whisker in record time.“He's had a great prep,” said co-trainer Ryan. “We set him for the race after he ran in the Golden Rose.”The entire would now head for a break ahead of living up to his potential in the autumn. “It's a quick turnaround to the autumn,” said Ryan. “The Apollo Stakes is in February and it's a Group 1 race now, so we'll aim him at that. He's won his good race now and I think there's more in him.”Pedigree NotesSkyhook was an A$575,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for his trainers from the Arrowfield Stud draft, and belongs to a syndicate that includes Matthew Ennis of Stallion Match.Conceived during the one season that Written Tycoon stood at Arrowfield Stud, Skyhook is out of Madame Pauline (Redoute's Choice), a winning half-sister to Anders, as well as Listed winners Ostraka (Pariah) and Caffe Florian (Snitzel) and the stakes performers Battleground (Snitzel) and Satin Love (Snitzel). Their dam Madame Andree is the only daughter of the talented but subfertile War Emblem in Australia. Madame Pauline's Dundeel yearling colt brought A$120,000 from Monarch Racing, Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggeman out of the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale this year. She delivered a colt by Castelvecchio in August.Coolmore Stud Stakes Won by the next EpisodeThat's why the colt syndicates spend big money on big pedigrees. The 2026 G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes once more reminded the industry of the scope of Snitzel's death last year when the quinella went to his pair of seven figure colts The Next Episode and St Gotthard.The pair cost A$5.5 million collectively and now have guaranteed stud careers. History might not remember the long neck separating them on the line but it will always remember the way The Next Episode stormed home to claim victory from the tough St Gotthard. Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) and Natural Fling (Home Affairs) led with the pack tightly held. St Gotthard, for jockey James McDonald, pushed through the pack to take over from the tiring leaders but out wide it was The Next Episode who exploded for jockey Mark Zahra and flew past everything in a moment of exciting acceleration. For a second he looked like he was going to win effortlessly, but St Gotthard was tough in chasing him to keep the margin tight, gifting Snitzel with the quinella.Lloyd Kennewell-trained Mbube (Rubick) closed strongly from last to add to his potential stallion credentials, albeit at a less commercial level than the first two home.“You can't get a bigger race than this. It's a stallion making race. He's a proper, proper colt,” Maher said. “I was confident he was ready, the team and Jack [Turnbull] have done a super job from Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, just can't thank them enough and all the owners.“He races in Phil Cunningham's colours, it's his first horse in Australia, I'm sure he'd be ready to buy a few more this year, plenty of other mates in the horse as well, Anthony Thompson bred the horse, he's absolutely stoked and so am I, they don't get much bigger than that.”Winner of five of his seven starts, The Next Episode won the G2 Danehill Stakes leading into this victory. His debut in the Golden Gift has long been forgotten as he followed that up with three wins in his next four starts at two including the Listed Dalrello Stakes and the rich Magic Millions National Classic.The Coolmore Stud Stakes win took his earnings over $2.19 million.Pedigree NotesWidden Stud took The Next Episode to the 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where he was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for A$2.8 million. He was the second-top lot at the sale following the A$3.2 million paid for Lia La La (Home Affairs) who has placed twice in Japan from three starts.With a big price comes a big pedigree and The Next Episode becomes the 29th Group 1 winner for Snitzel who died in June 2025. His final crop of yearlings will be at the sales in early 2027.Snitzel's sire sons include Trapeze Artist, Shamus Award, Russian Revolution, and exciting second season sires Wild Ruler and Sword Of State. Among Snitzel's young sires are the Group 1 winners Shinzo, who won the Golden Slipper, first-season sire In The Congo, and Switzerland, who won this race in 2024 and is a full-brother to second-placed St Gotthard. Another full-brother to Switzerland and St Gotthard, Decorum, finished second in the Golden Eagle on Saturday.The Next Episode is the second foal of G3 Proud Miss Stakes winner Humma Humma (Denman) whose first foal of G3 Blue Diamond Preview (f)-placed Price Tag (Zoustar). The tough racemare, whose six wins included three at black type level, has 2-year-old colt Hurricane Humma (I Am Invincible) and a yearling filly by Zoustar to come. She missed to Zoustar in 2025.Widden Stud paid A$1 million for Humma Humma at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and she is a half-sister to Listed winner Tycoon Humma (Capitalist). Their dam, Humma Mumma (Bel Esprit) won four races and is a half-sister to Listed winner Vignette (Spectrum). This is the family of G1 VRC Derby winner Manzoice (Almanzor).Class Wins the Derby for HermitageFrom the first time Stormy Marco (Wootton Bassett) graced the racetrack as a May juvenile, winning that debut in the Clarendon Stakes, it was obvious that he had plenty of class. His class came to the fore in the G1 VRC Derby when ridden quietly from barrier 14 by James McDonald for trainer Chris Waller.The only filly in the race, Quick Finish (Grunt) for trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy, ended up setting the pace into the straight but it was all Stormy Marco who came from the back of the field to finish strongly over the top and win by two lengths. In second was Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Cold Shower (Too Darn Hot) who followed Stormy Marco with Quick Finish clinging on for third.Once again, it is a horse with juvenile form that comes through in the Derby with Stormy Marco having three runs at two, winning on debut and placing in the G1 JJ Atkins Stakes behind Hermitage-owned Tron Bolt (Toronado). At three, he was second in the G3 Ming Dynasty Handicap when resuming, then mid-field in the G1 Golden Rose and G3 Gloaming Stakes before a solid fourth last start in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes.It was the fourth Derby for Waller who previously won with Preferment in 2014, Manzoice in 2022 and the ill-fated Riff Rocket in 2023.“It's a massive thrill,” said Charlie Duckworth, who represented the Waller stable at Flemington. “I know the Derby gets a bit of criticism but being a pom, the Derby is everything. Awesome, awesome for the Hermitage, awesome for Shannon who does an amazing job managing all their horses.“Fabulous effort, he's a really, really lovely colt. I actually said to Lizzie, who is Chris's assistant down here, I said, 'he's got such a lovely, kind eye, this horse'.”Stormy Marco took his record to two wins from eight starts with earnings over A$2.1 million.Pedigree NotesSold by Rathmore Lodge at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale for A$70,000 to Tasman Bloodstock, he went through Coolmore Stud's 2025 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft where Chris Waller, Mulcaster Bloodstock and Hermitage Thoroughbreds paid A$300,000 for him.He becomes the 25th Group 1 winner for Wootton Bassett, who died in September 2025. Stormy Marco is from Wootton Bassett's second Australian crop and joins G1 Queensland Derby winner Providence as a down under Group 1 winner.Stormy Marco is the seventh foal, and fourth winner, for Rose Memory (Elusive City) who was placed at Deauville. She is a half-sister to G2 Longchamp Prix Noailles victor Hard Dream (Oasis Dream) who later won twice in Hong Kong.Saturday, Royal Randwick, AustraliaGOLDEN EAGLE-G1, A$10,000,000, ATC, 10-31, 4yo, Open Set Weight, 1500mT, 1:26.64, gd.1–SKYHOOK (AUS), 57.5, c, 4, by Written Tycoon (Aus) 1st Dam: Madame Pauline (Aus), by Redoute's Choice (Aus) 2nd Dam: Madame Andree (Aus), by War Emblem 3rd Dam: Glamour Stock (Jpn), by Sunday Silence*1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$575,000 Ylg '24 MMLJAN). O-Ryan &Alexiou Racing (G A Ryan), Stallion Match (M Ennis), The Big 4Racing (M W Lowe), South Arm (J A Kennedy), J B Plozza, J FTownley, Ms L Coghlan, I C Burford, Mrs M A Burford, LegacyThoroughbreds (D F Macaskill), Tripp Racing (Mrs C M Tripp), TCarroll, M T Tripp, M A Stevens & N J Lovett; B-ArrowfieldPastoral Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou;J-Chad Schofield; A$5,610,000. Lifetime Record: 17-7-3-2,A$6,976,610. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree.2–Decorum (Aus), 57.5, g, 4, Snitzel (Aus)–Ms Bad Behavior, byBlame. *1ST BLACK-TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (A$550,000 Ylg '24 INGAPR). O-TFI(Mgr: M King), MyRacehorse No. 1 (Mgr: B K Willis), ArrowfieldPastoral Pty Ltd (Mgr: J M Messara), Cloros Bloodstock (Mgr:M G Cloros), S A McQueen, Dr J R Loughman, Dr W K A Lee &Ms J V Borg; B-Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd (NSW); T-MichaelFreedman; J-Tim Clark; A$2,000,000.3–Beiwacht (Aus), 57.5, c, 4, Bivouac (Aus)–Metastasio (Aus),by Street Cry (Ire). O-Godolphin; B-Godolphin Australia (NSW);T-Chris Waller; J-Nash Rawiller; A$1,000,000.Margins: NS, 1, HF. Odds: 10.00, 70.00, 7.50.Also Ran: Mr Miller (NZ), Autumn Boy (Aus), Estremo (Aus), Rivellino (Aus), Apocalyptic (Aus), Amazing Journey (Ire), Night Agent (Aus), Sheza Alibi (Aus), Attica (Aus), Brave Monarch (Aus), Within the Law (Aus), Regal Award (Aus), Platinum Pantheon (Aus). Click for the Racing Australia chart. VIDEO. 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 Saturday, Flemington, AustraliaVICTORIA DERBY-G1, A$3,000,000, VRC, 10-31, 3yo, Open Set Weight, 2500mT, 2:38.33, gd.1–STORMY MARCO (AUS), 57.0, c, 3, by Wootton Bassett (GB) 1st Dam: Rose Memory (Ire), by Elusive City 2nd Dam: Rose Melody (Ire), by Galileo (Ire) 3rd Dam: Horphaly (Fr), by Pharly (Fr)*1ST BLACK-TYPE WIN. 1ST GROUP WIN. 1ST GROUP 1 WIN.(A$70,000 Wlg '24 INGMAY; A$300,000 Ylg '25 INGAPR).O-Hermitage (Mgr: Ms S M Clarke); B-Rathmore Bloodstock(SA); T-Chris Waller; J-James McDonald; A$1,812,250. LifetimeRecord: 8-2-1-1, A$2,174,150. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus*. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.2–Cold Shower (Aus), 57.0, g, 3, Too Darn Hot (GB)–Seracena(Aus), by So You Think (NZ). *1ST BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP BLACK TYPE. 1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (A$650,000 Ylg '25INGAPR). O-P S Chiu, Hesket Thoroughbreds (Mgr: D JMoodie), Anax Racing (Mgr: M Anaxagora), G D McCloskey, LCaminiti, Mrs G C Psaltis, N S Psaltis, D W Smith & Ms L JLongmire; B-Contract Racing Pty Ltd (Vic); T-Gai Waterhouse &Adrian Bott; J-Jett Stanley; A$540,000.3–Quick Finish (Aus), 55.0, f, 3, Grunt (NZ)–Gentle Strokes(Aus), by Golden Horn (GB). *1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE.(A$30,000 RNA Ylg '25 INGMAR). O-Yu Long Investments (Mgr:Y Zhang); B-Yulong Investments Yulong Stud (Vic); T-Tony &Calvin McEvoy; J-Jye McNeil; A$270,000.Margins: 2, 1 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 3.40, 100.00, 20.00.Also Ran: Murshidi (Aus), True Rebel (Aus). Click for the Racing Australia chart. VIDEO. A moment etched in Derby history@mcacajamez guides STORMY MARCO to Group 1 glory in the Howden Victoria Derby over 2500m.#DerbyDay https://t.co/dQSUi58Dzb— Victoria Racing Club (@FlemingtonVRC) October 31, 2026Saturday, Flemington, AustraliaCOOLMORE STUD STAKES-G1, A$2,000,000, VRC, 10-31, 3yo Open Set Weight, 1200mT, 1:10.06, gd.1–THE NEXT EPISODE (AUS), 57.0, c, 3, by Snitzel (Aus) 1st Dam: Humma Humma (Aus) (GSW-Aus, $461,003), by Denman (Aus) 2nd Dam: Humma Mumma (Aus), by Bel Esprit (Aus) 3rd Dam: Unfinished Story (Aus), by Last Tycoon (Ire)*1ST GROUP 1 WIN. (A$2,800,000 Ylg '25 MMLJAN). O-P MCunningham, Widden Stud Pty Ltd, Ciaron Maher Racing, W JBetar, P S Frampton, C Massie, P Trainor, J M Simmons, Ms SM Fitzgerald, A K Racing, Ms S Hill & C Trinder; B-WiddenBloodstock Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Ciaron Maher; J-Mark Zahra;A$1,205,645. Lifetime Record: 7-5-1-0, A$2,195,495. *1/2 toPrice Tag (Aus) (Zoustar {Aus}), GSP-Aus. Click for the free Arion.co.nz catalogue-style pedigree. Werk Nick Rating: A++. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.2–St Gotthard (Aus), 57.0, c, 3, Snitzel–Ms Bad Behavior, byBlame. (A$2,700,000 Ylg '25 INGAPR). O-Coolmore (TMagnier), Wynaus (D Smith), Westerberg (M Ryan), J Poulin,Chris Waller Racing, K MacLennan, Meridian B/Stock (YIchikawa), Marcstown Pty Ltd (M Chan), R McClure, Glentree(B Wilson), Rockingham Thoroughbreds (J Ingham), Lynque(Ms L Ingham) & Lockhart Waller Racing (Ms M Waller);B-Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd (NSW); T-Chris Waller; J-JamesMcDonald; A$360,000.3–Mbube (Aus), 57.0, c, 3, Rubick (Aus)–Scandimania (Aus), byMagnus (Aus). *1ST GROUP 1 BLACK TYPE. (A$1,500 Wlg '24INGJUN; A$22,500 Ylg '25 MMLMAR). O-L Koumi, Z Koumi, MsR Koumi, D L Portelli, Peake Racing (Mgr: P N Edwards), DRogers, Mrs K Rogers, Mrs M L Kennewell, Mrs M Fitzsimons, FA Magnabosco, A Pante, D Sfetcopoulos, S Sarkis, SKheryakhos, Mrs A Kheryakhos, H Saleh & P Garofalo;B-Whitling Bloodstock VIC; T-Lloyd Kennewell; J-Billy Egan;A$180,000.Margins: HD, NK, 1HF. Odds: 2.20, 3.00, 25.00.Also Ran: Under Focus (Aus), Pembrey (Aus), Alibaba (Aus), The Machine Gun (Aus), Steel Will (Aus), Natural Fling (Aus), Marffiano (Aus), Stretan Ruler (Aus), Paradoxium (Aus), Satono Glow (NZ). Click for the Racing Australia chart. VIDEO. Binge-worthy! The Next Episode delivers a show-stopping finish to take the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes!@cmaherracing @FlemingtonVRC https://t.co/2CEuVf6afo— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 31, 2026The post Skyhook Soars To Victory In The Golden Eagle, As Snitzel And Wootton Bassett Reach Milestones appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.