2017 Golden Rose Stakes Day has drawn strong fields to nine races at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, highlighted by the $1 million feature race for three-year-olds.
Menari is favourite to win the Group 1 Golden Rose. Photo: Steve Hart
Five of the nine races on 2017 Golden Rose Day will be contested under black type conditions and we have analysed every runner in each, in order to help you find a winner.
The action on 2017 Golden Rose Day is set to get underway with the running of the Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Handicap (1300m) at 12:15pm, while the feature race is slated for 3:55pm.
Race 1 (12:15pm) Nathan’s Famous Hotdogs Handicap (1300m)
Eight three-year-olds will step out in Race 1 on Golden Rose Day and there is winning potential across the board. Leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller will saddle three horses in the race; Paret (barrier 8), Aonair (barrier 2) and Bella Success (barrier 6). Paret debuted to racing for a smart win at Canterbury last week and will only improve into this race, particularly with Hugh Bowman in the saddle. Aonair and Bella Success have both also found winning form this time in and are live chances. Charlie Chap (barrier 7) ran on for a credible third behind classy gelding Beacon last time out and will enjoy a step up in trip to 1300m. Beau Geste (barrier 4) has plenty of scope for improvement and could enjoy the run of the race from his draw.
Tip: No. 5 Paret ($4.50)
Race 2 (12:50pm) Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m)
Only six stayers will step out in the first black type race on Golden Rose Day, but the depth of talent confirmed suggests that it is one of the more open races of the card. Broadside (barrier 4) returned to winning form via a dominant performance in the Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup (2350m) last week and should prove extremely difficult to beat once more on Saturday. Stable mate Dee I Cee has gone amiss at his two most-recent starts, but won the Listed Premier’s Cup (1900m) in late August and is up to the class of this race. Auvray (barrier 3) has been flying this time in and is primed for another big run on Saturday, particularly in such a small field. Alward (barrier 2) finished fourth in a talent-rich Rosehill race over 1800m a fortnight ago and appears as though he will relish a step up to a mile-and-a-half.
Tip: No. 3 Auvray ($3.30)
Race 3 (1:25pm) TAB Highway Handicap (1500m)
This weekend’s Highway Handicap will be contested at a distance of 1500m and has drawn eleven talented country horses. Majestic Pedrille (barrier 2) has failed to finish outside the first three through three starts this time, but faces a step up in class here, while both Apocalyptic Fun (barrier 10) and Catch The Culprit (barrier 11) both carry winning form into the race and should prove difficult to beat. Rising King (barrier 7) has been in strong and consistent form without returning to the winner’s circle this time, but he should enjoy a good run in transit behind the pace this weekend and will be given every chance of posting an elusive victory in the race. Motime (barrier 8) is rock-hard fit ahead of his fourth campaign run and has conditions to suit in this Highway Handicap.
Tip: No. 3 Majestic Pedrille – Each Way ($6.50/$2.05)
Race 4 (2:00pm) Ranvet Handicap (2000m)
Eight horses have been confirmed in the field for Race 4 on Golden Rose Day and there is a case to be made for nearly every runner. Up ‘N’ Rolling (barrier 1) has posted two wins from as many starts this time and should prove extremely difficult to beat once more in this race, while Plot Twist (barrier 4) will have his first start since June, but should harbour some residual fitness and will enjoy 2000m first-up. Quick Defence (barrier 6) beat a smart field of Saturday horses over 1800m at Rosehill a fortnight ago and is primed for another big performance. Alward (barrier 7) has also accepted into the field for the Colin Stephen Quality, but will be ridden by Hugh Bowman should he take his place in this race and is arguably the class horse of the field.
Tip: No. 3 Up ‘N’ Rolling ($2)
Race 5 (2:35pm) Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m)
Ten horses remain in contention for this year’s Shannon Stakes, following the early scratching of leading contender Bonny O’Reilly. Good Project (barrier 10) worked to the line well to finish sixth in the Group 2 Theo Mark Stakes (1300m) first-up and will enjoy a step up in distance, while veteran Mighty Lucky (barrier 2) will need to improve drastically off his first-up run if he is any chance here. Euro Angel (barrier 5) has returned to racing in smart form this time and would not look out of place in the winner’s circle in this race, particularly from an ideal draw. Washington Heights (barrier 8) has experienced an outstanding return to Australian racing and is the horse to beat in the Shannon Stakes, while Dawn Wall (barrier 3) will be looming late.
Tip: No. 9 Dawn Wall ($3.50)
Race 6 (3:15pm) Group 3 Gloaming Stakes (1800m)
Eleven three-year-olds will step out in Saturday’s Gloaming Stakes field, including several leading contenders for the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes in October. Godolphin will launch a smart two-pronged attack in the race after trainer James Cummings confirmed both Astoria (barrier 2) and Sanctioned (barrier 3) for starts. Astoria was a smart winner of the Group 3 Spring Stakes (1600m) at Newcastle last week, while Sanctioned flew home to finish second in the Group 2 Stan Fox Stakes (1500m) and will enjoy a step up in distance. Coulthard (barrier 1) has steadily built to the task this time, but faces a big step up in class here and will need to improve noticeably to win the race. Sully (barrier 6) has posted two wins from as many starts this time and his breeding suggests that he will relish 1800m.
Tip: No. 3 Sanctioned ($3.80)
Race 7 (3:55pm) Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m)
An outstanding field of fourteen three-year-olds has been confirmed for the Group 1 Golden Rose, but Menari (barrier 11) is looming as the horse to beat. The Snitzel colt returned to the races for a smart win in the Listed Rosebud (1100m), before dominating many of his Golden Rose rivals in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m) a fortnight ago. Pariah (barrier 12) chased Menari home in the Run To The Rose and is undoubtedly the classy colt’s biggest danger in the Golden Rose. Pariah was a dominant winner of the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes (1100m) first-up and appears as though he will relish the 1400m of the Golden Rose. Victorian raider Merchant Navy (barrier 2) is yet to taste anything but success through his impressive racing career and is a live chance from his ideal draw, while The Mission (barrier 3) should have no issue taking up the early running from an inside draw.
Tip: No. 3 Pariah – Each Way ($7/$2.30)
Race 8 (4:35pm) Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m)
The final black type race on Golden Rose Day will peg thirteen outstanding mares against one-another in the Golden Pendent. Bonny O’Reilly (barrier 3) was luckless from a wide draw in the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) a fortnight ago, but has drawn ideally into this field and will be tough to run down late. Omei Sword (barrier 2) and Danish Twist (barrier 10) should both take plenty of improvement into their respective second-up runs, while Magic Alibi (barrier 5) has a fitness edge on most of this field, but will still need to improve if she is a winning chance. Ron Quinton will saddle stable starts Dixie Blossoms (barrier 8) and Daysee Doom (barrier 12) in the Golden Pendant and both are live chances.
Tip: No. 7 Bonny O’Reilly – Each Way ($5/$2.05)
Race 9 (5:15pm) TAB.com.au Handicap (1400m)
Eleven horses will contest the final race on 2017 Golden Rose Day, including Screamarr (barrier 4). Trainers Anthony & Edward Cummings have a big opinion of the Street Cry gelding, who returned to the races for an impressive win over 1300m at Warwick Farm on September 6th. Denpurr (barrier 10) has yet to find her best this time, but is rock-hard fit and should enjoy the conditions of this race, while Hogmanay (barrier 9) will also be ready to fire third-up. Lunar Rise (barrier 6), Souchez (barrier 7) and Zumbelina (barrier 1) are all legitimate winning chances.
Tip: No. 9 Screamarr – Each Way ($8/$2.65)
