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By Ray Hickson

When the going gets tough in Saturday’s $7.5 million XXXX Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill, trainer Mick Price knows emerging star I’m Thunderstruck will get going.

Price, who co-trains with Michael Kent Jr, is expecting a prize fighter will be needed to win the only feature race in Australia exclusively for four-year-olds and says I’m Thunderstruck has what it takes.

The last start Group 1 winner is as strong on the inside as he looks on the outside and Price said jockey Hugh Bowman will have plenty to work with come the business end.

“He’s robust, he’s strong, he’s sound, he has a good heart and lungs on him,’’ Price said.

“He has a good constitution on him, he shoulders weight, all the things you need. He’s learnt a lot about how to be racehorse since we’ve had him. He’s a bit gutsy, he can push into a gap.

“The winner of the Golden Eagle will have luck in running there’s no doubt.

“There’s going to be argy bargy in the race, there’ll be shifting with a big field, that’s all part of racing but he should acquit himself very well.”

I’m Thunderstruck, one of six Group 1 winners in the field, will jump from barrier eight in the Golden Eagle and that draw confirmed his favouritism at $4.50 with TAB on Tuesday.

The gelding has been aimed at the race since he won successive races in Melbourne in July and arguably should have two Group 1 wins next to his name – a luckless third in the Sir Rupert Clarke (1400m) was atoned for with his Toorak Handicap (1600m) win on October 9.

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I'm Thunderstruck claims the Group 1 Toorak Handicap. @jyemcneil @mickpriceracing pic.twitter.com/N0BOWLBA0d

— 7HorseRacing 🐎 (@7horseracing) October 9, 2021

Price said those races illustrate how important things like barrier draws and track conditions can be – he drew 16 and settled last in the Sir Rupert Clarke but from gate four in the Toorak he was midfield.

“There’ll be a good push on tempo wise no doubt, I would say we’d be behind the first six or seven speed horses off the fence,’’ he said.

“If we let the first six or eight go and he’s behind them somewhere that’ll be a good spot.

“Hugh is good at following the right horse and getting the right runs and riding with a sense of timing.

“I think with even luck in running he is going to be in the finish and we are going there with a fit horse and no problems.”

While he hasn’t raced in the right handed direction, I’m Thunderstruck was picked up from New Zealand on the back of a barrier trial win at Te Aroha, which races in the Sydney direction, last year.

Ten per cent of prizemoney from the Golden Eagle is donated to charities selected by connections of each runner and I’m Thunderstruck is racing for Camp Quality.

Terry Henderson, chief executive of OTI Racing, said there has been a long standing relationship between OTI and Camp Quality as there has with Riding For The Disabled (NSW) which OTI Racing’s second runner Reve De Vol, an import trained by Annabel Neasham, is partnering with.

“There’s enough money in this race for the owners to be satisfied with their return and to have it connected with so many charities it’s a great thing,’’ Henderson said.

All the fields, form and replays for Saturday's Golden Eagle meeting at Rosehill