2025 Golden Rose Stakes Day Preview

MERIDIANA resumes.

A daughter of Preferment, the mare has just had the four race starts and after a strong debut win, she earned herself a crack at stakes level, competing at Listed grade at her next three outings.

She finished off strongly into fourth in the South Pacific Stakes before a trip to the Brisbane, where she finished third in the Princess Stakes.

She was spelled after failing to handle the heavy 10 conditions in the Gold Coast Bracelet, in which she lost both front plates during the run.

Given two trials in preparation for her return, she cruised to line in behind Tempted in her latest heat and looks ready to go.

POISEN POINT kicked off her campaign with a very encouraging effort in a Randwick Highway, and she looks well suited here stepping out over 1500m.

Taken back to last in the 1200m event, the Swiss Ace mare stuck to the rail and make good ground in the straight to finish fourth.

She really hit her straps last preparation, recording two wins and three placings from her five starts.

An improving type, she looks to have come back in top order and with that run under her belt, I think she’ll relish the rise in trip.

Zac Lloyd stays aboard and if he can find cover early off the wide gate, she’ll be strong late.

JUJA KIBO found himself back in the winner’s stall last start and looks well placed to make it back-to-back victories in the Colin Stephen Quality.

Two runs back, when stepping out to 2400m for the first time, the former Irish galloper just found himself too far off them and peaked late after making a long-sustained run.

Settling in second place last time, he travelled well and gave a strong kick in the straight to pull away and score by just under two lengths.

With three wins from his is past four outings, he’s racing in top form and I think he’ll continue to progress.

He takes a big step up in grade but drops 4kgs on that latest run and I’m happy to stick with him.

FLYING BANDIT was doing his best work late when resuming over the mile at Randwick and he’ll relish stepping to this trip.

The Kerry Parker trained gelding has worked through his grades with relative ease and looks a very smart stayer on the rise.

He recorded his first stakes victory last campaign in the Wagga Gold Cup, and I think we’ll see plenty more from him this time in.

He’s won two of his three second up appearances and looks nicely placed here with the drop in grade.

Braith Nock will take 2kgs off and with clear air in the straight, he’ll be powering home.

POINT AND SHOOT has failed to figure in two runs this preparation but I’m confident he can bounce back here.

The Blue Point gelding struggled in the heavy conditions when resuming and after blowing the start last time, he tired late after chasing the field.

He’s since been back to the trials and the way he hit the line, suggests he’s ready to fire.

He was terrific form last campaign and put together back-to-back wins in dominant fashion.

He’s fit, the rise to 1400m suits and he draws to get the right run for Rachel King.

Golden Slipper Stakes winner MARHOONA returns to the races.

The Snitzel filly just had the three runs in her first campaign which resulted in two wins and a second placing.

That second placing came in the Reisling Stakes where only Golden Rose favourite Tempted got the better of her late.

Given two solid trials in preparation for her return, she performed well in both heats and looks primed to strike first up.

Tommy Berry will do the steering for Michael Freedman and gate four should see her afforded every opportunity.

MANAAL bounced back to her best last start with a strong win in the Sheraco Stakes and I think she can repeat that performance.

The daughter of Tassort failed to fire when resuming in the Cockram Stakes at Caulfield but back to her home state and with the added fitness, she proved too good last time.

A Group 1 winner having taken out the Sires Produce Stakes as a two-year-old, she’s proven herself a class galloper and the form around her is hard to go past.

The rise to 1400m looks ideal in the Golden Pendant on Saturday and whilst she does to concede weight to the rest of the field, the low draw can see her afforded a cosy in transit.

TEMPTED was simply brilliant when resuming in the Run To The Rose and I think she’s the one to beat here as she again takes on the boys.

The filly proved too good in the Percy Sykes as well as the Reisling Stakes during the Autumn and she was a hard luck story in both the Blue Diamond Stakes and Golden Slipper.

Now under the care of Ciaron Maher, Godolphin’s daughter of Street Boss has returned in top order, and I don’t think she’ll have any trouble stretching out to 1400m in the day’s feature.

GRINGOTTS was solid when making his return in the Winx Stakes and with the added fitness I think he’ll be hard to beat here.

The Ciaron Maher trained son of Per Incanto just looked to peak on his run late in the heavy conditions and has since been back to the trials.

He’s always shown plenty of talent and took it to a new level last preparation as he stepped up to Group 1 level for the first time and proved superior under weight for age conditions in the George Ryder.

He boasts a terrific second up record, the rise to 1500m looks ideal and he’ll certainly appreciate getting back on a fairer surface.

The big weight is a slight concern, but class will carry him a long way in this year’s Shannon Stakes.

ROSELYN’S STAR returned off a lengthy break with a very encouraging effort over this course and distance but failed to finish off at his second run back.

With four weeks since that outing, he’s been back to the trials where he was very strong through the line to win the heat comfortably.

Lightly raced, having had just the five starts, the son of Shaala showed plenty of promise in his first preparation, recording a win and two second placings, one of which was in the Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes.

With the added fitness, I think we’ll see a much-improved performance from his and he draws to get the right run under Zac Lloyd to close out the Golden Rose Stakes Day card.