Mr. Marc Blythe reports

AU GOLD CORP COMPLETES SURFACE SAMPLING AND BEGINS DRILL TARGETING AT ITS HAVELOCK GOLD-ANTIMONY PROJECT, VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA

Au Gold Corp. has provided an update on exploration activities at its Havelock gold-antimony project in Victoria, Australia.

• Drill targeting is now under way including discussions with drill contractors;
• 144 focused rock samples collected at a range of targets driven by follow up from recent orientation sampling, historical soil geochemistry and reconstruction of historical workings;
• Reconstruction of historical workings on the Shaw-McFarlane Trendt(SMT) is complete and providing key information for drill targeting;
• Approximately 1,000 soil samples are being collected and expected to be completed mid-July.

Marc Blythe, founder and chief executive officer of Au Gold, comments: "As we conclude our surface sampling programs and shift toward diamond drilling, the next phase of work at Havelock is being carefully crafted to maximize our chances of success. The historic reconstructive work on the SMT has been extremely successful and is providing critical insights into the locations of the highest-potential targets for drilling along the nine km SMT."

Rock and soil sampling

During June, 2026, company personnel carried out an intensive three-week sampling program focusing primarily on targets identified from the recent orientation sampling campaign in conjunction with newly identified areas of historical soil and/or rock geochemical responses from both the Havelock southern and northern claim blocks (SMT southern extension and Sydenham) described in news release May 21, 2026.

The orientation sampling carried out in March, 2026, provided key insights into the different styles of gold mineralization at Havelock, allowing the team to efficiently review and rank multiple targets optimizing discovery potential. Numerous targets sampled in June comprised in-situ vein exposures across measured widths and locally derived float samples proximal to hardrock sources. Assay results from this sampling are anticipated in August, 2026.

Aside from potential anomalies generated by the current soil sampling program, Au Gold does not envisage significant additional surface rock sampling at Havelock. The two recent surface sampling campaigns are considered sufficient for the first phase diamond drill targeting peripheral to the main SMT reef line. The approximately 1,000 soil samples are being collected in strategic parts of the property supplementing broadly spaced historical gold-in-soil anomalies generated by prior operators.

Historical data set review

The reconstructive work carried out by Clive Willman and Associates along the SMT is now complete. This work has provided a stunning level of detail allowing Au Gold to strategically design focused diamond drilling beneath the historical workings with a high degree of confidence given the absence of surficial clues. Drill targeting is also being designed for parallel and oblique structures west of the SMT reef line including Harvey's Reef, Lund's Reef and Ant Reef (NR08-2026). Au Gold anticipates the identification of additional drill targets once the rock sample results from the most recent program are received and interpreted.

Although the company has largely completed its review of historical data, some review work continues, specifically the northern tenement block where a number of anomalous gold samples were collected from rocks by a prior operator. As previously announced (May 21, 2026), these anomalous samples comprise two trends, Sydenham Central and Sydenham East.

Prospecting at Sydenham East has downgraded the prospect and no further work is planned. The Sydenham Central target is still being evaluated.

Next steps

Au Gold will shortly complete its phase 2 work program at Havelock, comprising the collection of approximately 1,000 soil samples in strategic parts of the property and a further 144 rock samples. Follow up may be required for anomalous results received.

The focus has now shifted to diamond drill target selection and ranking. Discussions with private landowners are continuing and the company has made several presentations to the local community. The company has also commenced discussions with diamond drilling contractors.

Au Gold's planned diamond drill program, which is expected to commence in Q3 2026 will constitute the first modern drilling program on the SMT.

Qualified person

Technical information in this press release was prepared under the supervision of Mr. William Wengzynowski, PEng, a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Wengzynowski is Au Gold's exploration manager.

About Au Gold Corp.

Au Gold is a gold exploration company focused on advancing its flagship Havelock gold-antimony project in the Victorian goldfields in Australia and the Ponderosa gold project in the Spences Bridge gold belt in British Columbia, Canada.

We seek Safe Harbor.