Golden Rose Stakes: Expert punter preview, tips & video

Golden Rose Stakes 2021: Alfie’s Preview

Track It’s currently a Soft 5 and there’s a bit of rain around over the next couple of days, so it will be a question mark on the track. I’ll play it as a soft 7 with them getting off the fence from the turn.

Speed Fast. The last two years have been run very fast. Daumier and Zou Tiger should settle in the lead with Basquait to settle in behind. In Secret fence in the top 4.Golden Mile mid-field, Fireburn settling back.

Runner-by-runner

Prices courtesy of TopSport at time of publication.

16 In Secret [$2.70] won the Run to the Rose in good fashion. The Godolphin camp is on fire. It’s her first time at the distance but she’s a deserving favourite.

7 Golden Mile [$6.00] was great in the Ming Dynasty over 1400m, but would need to improve again to win this

3 Jacquinot [$7.50] has a great-looking form line with a win over Aft Cabin, is in a strong camp (Price & Kent Jr) and has a strong jockey in Lane. She’ll be running on but does have a chance from the back.

14 Fireburn [$9.00] was disappointing in the Run to the Rose, but ran a similar figure first-up over the 1200m. She can run the 1400m out and should improve over the longer distance today.

15 She’s Extreme [$9.50] won the Champagne Stakes over 1600m as a two-year-old, so a strongly-run 1400m won’t be a concern.

17 Paris Dior [$19] would need to improve a few lengths to be competitive here.

11 Fast Witness [$21] is bringing Melbourne form up to Sydney, but not sure that will be up to the best of these.

13 Zou Tiger [$51] regressed in the Ming Dynasty, so will have to turn it around to win this.

The rest would need a very sharp improvement to win this 10 Basquiat [$61], 12 Millane [$31], 5 Political Debate [$61], 8 Brosnan [$81], 6 Promitto [$34], 4 Sejardan [$21], 9 Sebonack [$71], 1 Daumier [$41].

Betting strategy

Top pick In Secret
Best value Fireburn

This is a tough race to assess with some stepping up in distance. The last two years’ winners have come from the Run to the Rose. I think In Secret is the one to beat… the camp is in form and  JMac is on. The $2.70 currently on offer is a bit tight, especially if it gets to the heavy range, so I would want better odds on raceday. If the track does get in the heavy range, then Fireburn at double figures from the back would be a good each-way play.

Golden Rose Stakes: Alfie’s video preview

Golden Rose Stakes

The Golden Rose Stakes is a Group 1 race for three-year-olds held at Rosehill Racecourse in Sydney during the Spring Carnival. The race is run over 1400 metres at set weights. Current prizemoney is $1 million.

The race actually started in 1978 as the Peter Pan Stakes, named after the dual Melbourne Cup winner from the 1930s, Peter Pan. In 2002 the Australian Turf Club revamped the race, renaming it the Golden Rose Stakes to align with the famous Golden Slipper Stakes for two-year-olds. In 2019, the Golden Eagle for four-year-old horses was also added to the racing calendar.

The conversion of the Peter Pan Stakes to the Golden Rose also brought about a new prize pool of $1 million. This attracted a high-quality field. Subsequently, the race became a Group 3 in 2006, a Group 2 in 2008 and finally a Group 1 in 2009.

The key lead-up race is the Group 2 Run to the Rose, held under the same conditions but over 1200 metres. The Run To The Rose is also held at Rosehill, typically a couple of weeks prior to the Golden Rose. Winners of the race have multiple Group 1 options to continue their campaign. These include the Spring Champion (2000 metres at Randwick) or the Caulfield Guineas (1600 metres). For some, open-age Group 1 racing beckons immediately.