James Tedesco didn’t get his hands on the NRL premiership trophy this year, but the Sydney Roosters captain could not wipe the smile off his face when given the chance to hold the Golden Eagle trophy this week.
Tedesco is an ambassador for the Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation, which will collect $525,000 should the horse Willydoit win Saturday’s $10 million feature race at Royal Randwick.
The Golden Eagle is the second-richest race in Australia, behind only the $20m Everest, and generates $1m for charity.
Ten per cent of prizemoney won by each horse is donated to the charity with which they are aligned. The Ricky Stuart Foundation, established by the Canberra Raiders coach, received $525,000 last year when Lake Forest triumphed, while the Mark Hughes and Royce Simmons Foundations are among the charities in line for a payday on Saturday.
The Sporting Chance Cancer Foundation was founded in 1998 by former Test batsman Mark Taylor, the late league legend Reg Gasnier, Olympian Raelene Boyle and triple AFL Brownlow Medallist Bob Skilton to help raise funds for children with cancer and their families.
Last year, the foundation launched the James Tedesco Outreach program, which sends nurses to remote areas to treat kids with cancer rather than forcing them to travel to big cities for hospital treatment.
Tedesco, who went to school with the sons of Jack Hughes, one of the foundation’s founders, said any money would be a huge help.
“It’s such a great initiative,” Tedesco said while admiring the $200,000 trophy carefully delivered to his inner-western Sydney home by two Racing NSW employees this week. “Sporting Chance is only a small charity, but every dollar helps.
“It’s fun having a horse involved in the race. We had Stefi Magnetica race for the charity last year. She raced again on the weekend, won, and I had something on her. Willydoit? Hopefully ‘Willy’ can.”
The Golden Eagle will have 16 runners, two short of the maximum field size, but the two remaining charities without a runner will still receive a payday, Racing NSW officials confirmed.
Tedesco will watch the Golden Eagle before settling in for the second Ashes rugby league Test between Australia and England early on Sunday.
He passed on the tour because of his brother’s wedding, but was impressed by the performance of new Kangaroos’ No.1, Reece Walsh.
“The footy he’s played the past 10 weeks, including the finals and the grand final, Reece is in career-best form.” Tedesco said.
“We all know what he can do with the ball in his hands, but his defence has come a long way, and he’s matured – he’s got an opportunity to make the No. 1 jersey his own for a long time if he keeps producing this footy.”
Tedesco would have made himself available for Italy at next year’s World Cup – he played for the nation at the 2017 World Cup – but they are yet to qualify for the event.
