The fillies and mares take centre stage at Flemington on Saturday in the final Group 1 on Derby Day, the Empire Rose Stakes.
Contested over the mile, the field of 16 is made up of Queen Of The Turf winner Atishu, as well as recent Winx Stakes and Memsie Stakes runner-up, Princess Grace.
The two stablemates occupy the top line of betting as Chris Waller searches for his third Empire Rose win, while Alcohol Free boasts genuine claims for Waterhouse/Bott coming off a big run in The Invitation last week.
It’s often one of the best races of the Spring Carnival, and we’ve analysed every runner in this year’s Empire Rose Stakes field below.
2023 Empire Rose Stakes Betting Strategy
- 1 Unit Princess Grace
- 1 Unit Atishu
1. Alcohol Free (5)
She doesn’t win out of turn, but she has put in a couple of honest performances so far this prep.
Forget she went around in The Everest two back, a race she was clearly out of her depth in when weakening badly up on the speed.
I thought her effort in The Invitation last week was much-improved though, hitting the front out of the turn and fighting on well for fourth.
This isn’t any easier, but she maps to get the dream run in transit from the soft gate, and I think the rise to the mile couldn’t have come at a more perfect time.
2. Princess Grace (12)
Wins have eluded her, but she continues to be right around the mark.
In terms of class, she has a bit on the rest of this field given she was second to Fangirl in the Winx Stakes and runner-up to Mr Brightside in the Memsie Stakes.
You would have liked to have seen her win the Group 2 down the Flemington straight she contested early last month, but even so, her runner-up effort was good behind another smart mare.
The gate is the worry, but with a gap between runs and fitness on her side, she probably won’t get a better chance than this.
3. Hope In Your Heart (1)
Another one that continues to race well without winning.
Third in the Tramway a couple of months ago behind Pericles, then finishing within two lengths of Rediener in the Memsie a few weeks later.
I thought she had genuine excuses from a tricky gate in the King Charles, racing a tad wide after giving away a big start.
Whether the rails draw is in her favour is the question this time, but if she can make use of it and get back early in the run, she should be strong late.
4. Atishu (8)
Fifth in this same race last year and I think she’s going even better this time around.
The Savabeel mare has since gone on to claim the Queen of the Turf at Randwick during the autumn, a win that stands out given she beat home Hope In Your Heart and In Secrets that day.
She’s fitter on this occasion and proven over the mile, while she was also second to Espiona two back in the Golden Pendant – last week’s winner of The Invitation.
The gate makes this tricky, but she’s a must for a place.
5. Hinged (13)
Unplaced in her last six starts at Group 1 level, but she still holds each-way claims for mine.
She was found to have issues post-race two back in the 7 Stakes, but I thought she found the line nicely to finish midfield three weeks later in a Group 2.
The blinkers come off for the first time, and with a big chance of rain, it’s worth monitoring the market.
6. Foxy Frida (6)
She put together two impressive wins at Group 3 and weight-for-age level over the winter but has struggled to produce that same form since resuming.
That said, I thought she showed real improvement for third in the Let’s Elope at Caulfield three weeks ago, running home well along the rail to finish two lengths off Wishlor Lass.
She’s always been a good third-up bet with a win and four placings on the board, so don’t underestimate her chances.
7. Renaissance Woman (14)
Gets back to the mile in her fourth run back, the same journey she won the Angst Stakes over two back at Randwick.
Her effort in the Craven Plate last week over 1800m was very encouraging, storming down the outside where she was only beaten a lip by Zeyrek right on the line.
She’s drawn a horror gate, but fit with an in-form Harry Coffey steering, a win wouldn’t shock at a nice price.
8. Barbie’s Fox (16)
Another one that would probably be in serious contention if she’d drawn better.
On recent form, it’s tough to find fault with this Foxwedge mare. She made up some decent ground to finish 1.2 lengths off Rediener in the Epsom last month, proving that was no fluke when narrowly beaten by Wishlor Lass at Caulfield in her next start.
Everything suggests she’s going well enough to give this a shake, but whether she can find cover early and run her usual race off the speed from the wide gate is the query.
9. Wrote To Arataki (10)
Gets Dean Yendall again hoping to improve on a brilliant win in the Tristarc two weeks ago.
A change in tactics proved the trick with the pair leading from barrier to box, but I doubt she gets the same easy time of it up front with more early speed expected on this occasion.
10. Pride Of Jenni (17)
Hasn’t won since she took out a fillies and mares race well over a year ago now.
She does have a runner-up to Amelia’s Jewel on her resume two back in the Stocks Stakes at The Valley, but I think she was found out in the Toorak when weakening up on the speed.
She’ll likely go to the front again from the wide gate, but I can’t see her being much of a factor.
11. Deny Knowledge (7)
Tried her hardest up on the speed in the Might And Power a few weeks ago where she was ultimately no match in the end against a better crop of horses.
Getting back to the mile is more suitable here, and again, she’s the likely tempo-setter with Jamie Kah engaged.
12. Life Lessons (15)
She’s bred to eat up the mile and also owns a win over Princess Grace last start in the Blazer Stakes over shorter.
Untried over this trip and has to overcome the gate, but she’s plenty fit and has raced no worse than fourth in three goes this prep.
13. Shuffle Dancer (2)
Peter Moody’s lightly-raced mare comes out of the Tristarc where she stormed home down the outside to finish less than half a length to Wrote To Arataki.
By I Am Invincible, this four-year-old continues to improve with racing and she should find the rise to 1600m to her liking after running fourth over the track and trip in the Kewney Stakes earlier in the year.
14. Wishlor Lass (11)
Recent hat-trick winner that has gone to another level this prep.
Her win last week in the Tesio Stakes was outstanding, leading out of the turn and finding something extra to score by over a length.
This is her first look at Group 1 level, but she’s still a mare on the up that should be among those fighting it out on the speed.
15. Ausbred Flirt (9)
This mare by Maurice split Renaissance Woman and More Secrets in the Angst Stakes two back at Randwick before sticking to the task well to finish midfield in The Invitation last week.
The stable clearly think she’s going well enough to try again on the short backup, and after being held up at a crucial stage last week, the mile looks ideal for her with three runs under her belt.
16. More Secrets (4)
Out of the Hawkes yard, this daughter of More Than Ready is another one that has some good form around her rivals.
She was third to Atishi and Hope In Your Heart in the Queen Of The Turf earlier in the year, and now looks ready to peak third-up coming off a run in the Angst Stakes a few weeks ago.
This is her first look at Flemington, but based on the way she charged the line in that race just mentioned, she could be a sneaky each-way chance sticking to the mile.
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