With Sheza Alibi all the rage, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou trained Skyhook capitalised when things didn’t go to plan for the favourite, holding off all challengers to secure his first elite level victory, winning the $10m G1 ATC Golden Eagle (1500m).
Becoming the latest G1 winning son of his Champion Sire, stud master are sure to start circling as the 4yo is in career best form this time in, adding the Golden Eagle to his previous pair of G2 races won at the commencement of his current campaign.
Taken forward by Schofield to settle in a handy position behind multiple G1 winner Beiwacht who had to be some doubt at running out a strong 1500m, Skyhook allowed Apocalyptic to go around where she settle in second.
Cluttered up back in the field, Sheza Albi was always going to find it hard to make her run as in the past she has appreciated being wide in clear running, especially when winning at Randwick.
With Beiwacht taking the field into the home straight, Apocalyptic was starting to weaken as Schofield was descending on the leaders aboard Skyhook with Michael Freedman’s Decorum also presenting himself as a challenger.
Hitting the lead at the 200m mark, Skyhook and Decorum pulled away to fight it out.
With class on his side, Skyhook got his head in front when it mattered, taking his record to seven wins and five placed efforts from 17 starts with earnings of $6,976,610.
Gallant in defeat, Decorum was the second runner of the day out of his imported dam Ms Bad Behaviour (CAN) to finish second at G1 level with his year younger full bother St Gothard going down fighting in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes to The Next Episode. Brothers to G1 Coolmore Stud stakes winner Switzerland; both Decorum and St Gothard look capable of continuing to add further stakes performances to their records.
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-trained Gerald Ryan appeared confident as the 4yo had been set for the race after his G1 Golden Rose fourth placed effort last year.
“I wish they did when you’ve got a horse like him,” said Ran. “He’s had a great prep. We set him for the race after he ran in the Golden Rose.”
“The flaw in his campaign over the last twelve months was taking him to Melbourne. After June, we sat down and mapped out these four races heading into this and nothing has gone wrong.
“Before the Hawkesbury Guineas I put him over a few hurdles and he’s never looked back since. I haven’t done it since, but he was jumping the hurdles before the Guineas, after he ran in the Arrowfield, and he hasn’t looked back.”
“I might have learned how to train him a little bit too. I switched a few little things at home. He’s a horse who doesn’t cop a lot of work. He doesn’t cop backing up, so I might have just found out a little bit more about him.”
“I said to John Messara, I don’t think he’ll be any good until an autumn four-year-old, so we’ll see what happens. He’s ahead of schedule.”
“We’ve raced against Beiwacht five times and beaten him four. The only time he has beaten us home was in the Golden Rose.”
With Kerrin McEvoy unable to ride the stallion prospect due to suspension, G1 TAB Everest winning rider Chad Schofield was given the ride.
“It was good. It was touch-and-go who was going to ride him. I’ve known Chad since he was twelve years old," said Ryan.
“I’ve watched him all the way through, and he was chasing, chasing (the ride). He rang a couple of owners, which I don’t like jockeys doing, but he did. And I thought, why not? We know him well and I had a good bit of luck with his father (Glyn).”
“I would like to give him an ease-up. Since he came into work in December for the autumn, he’s only had eighteen days off. I’d like to give him a break. It’s a quick turnaround to the autumn. The Apollo Stakes is in February and it’s a Group One race now, so we’ll aim him at that.”
“He’s won his good race now and I think there’s more in him.”
Skyhook was conceived during the lone season that Written Tycoon stood at Arrowfield Stud who also offered the colt at the Magic Millions yearling sale where he was knocked down for $575,000 to his trainers.
Raced by a large group of owners headed by Matthew Ennis of Stallion Match, Skyhook is the second foal and first winner out of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Madame Pauline, a winning sibling to the G3 winner Anders and fellow stakes winners Caffe Florian and Ostraka, who was also raced by Ennis.
Madame Pauline produced her fourth foal recently, a colt by Castelvecchio on August 8.
Becoming the 19th individual G1 winner for his sire, Skyhook’s Yulong based sire Written Tycoon currently has his fee listed as F.O.A.
