The Empire Rose Stakes is a Group 1 race at Flemington on Saturday, and it’s the final of three Group 1 races on the card.
Empire Rose Stakes odds have Lady Shenandoah favoured to win, but there is money coming for a few other runners.
Empire Rose Stakes Final Field & Barrier Draw
| 1. Lady Shenandoah (8) 57kg2×441 | ||
| 10. Concord Connie (6) 56.5kg11×23 | ||
| 2. Idle Flyer (7) 57kg64405 | ||
| 9. Sass Appeal (5) 56.5kgx1442 | ||
| 3. Surfin’ Bird (9) 57kg1×411 | ||
| 11. Pillow Fight (3) 56.5kg2×652 | ||
| 4. Cilacap (4) 57kg831×5 | ||
| 7. Jenni Multabella (2) 57kg31222 | ||
| 8. Salty Pearl (1) 56.5kg5×346 | ||
| 5. Unleeshing (10) 57kgx2211 | ||
| 6. Pondalowie (11) 57kgx8156 |
We don’t think barrier draws will have too much importance for the Empire Rose Stakes. Most runners will find their spot in running, and barrier 9 for Surfin’ Bird won’t be an issue, as she likes to roll forward.
Race favourite Lady Shenandoah gets barrier 8, and she will likely head back and look to make ground approaching the home turn.
Empire Rose Stakes 2026 Best Bets
Lady Shenandoah’s win last time out was impressive, and although it required a good ride from James McDonald, he had a horse good enough to get the job done.
She is the proven Group 1 winner in the field, and she gets in well off on the weights for this race, which should add to her winning claims, especially with McDonald sticking with her at 57kg, which is a great way.
We expect her to settle midfield from the draw, and she could explode down centre track once again. She has a turn-of-foot that’s better than her opposition, and the $2.60 odds are a fair price given her talent.
| 1. Lady Shenandoah (8) 57kg2×441 |
We can’t leave Surfin’ Bird out of our Empire Rose Stakes predictions. She has been running well this season after posting back-to-back wins, and she will go forward and be tough to run down again.
The five-year-old mare tends to sneak under the radar, despite owning seven wins from 12 starts, and although she lacks the finish of the favourite, she could have a 4-5 length lead coming around the turn.
Making up ground can be easier said than done at Flemington, and Surfin’ Bird could be riding the wave of momentum. The $4.40 odds are good enough to take as a value bet on Saturday.
| 3. Surfin’ Bird (9) 57kg1×411 |
Salty Pearl has a few punters feeling salty after going winless this preparation, but she is good enough to figure in the finish at nice odds.
Trainer Ciaron Maher can’t do much wrong at the moment, and if he has Salty Pearl anywhere near her best, she could score a blowout win in the Empire Rose Stakes, and we’re happy to take the risk.
She’s a professional type that doesn’t get the best of luck at times, but she’s a clever type, and she could storm home late down the outside.
| 8. Salty Pearl (1) 56.5kg5×346 |
Punters get value odds with our Empire Rose Stakes SRM, which includes our three selected runners.
We have Lady Shenandoah Top 2, Surfin’ Bird Top 3, and Salty Pearl Top 5, which pays $8.50 for our three-runner SRM.
All three runners have a good chance of figuring in the finish, and they could run the trifecta at Flemington on Saturday.
| 1. Lady Shenandoah (8) 57kg2×441 | ||
| 3. Surfin’ Bird (9) 57kg1×411 | ||
| 8. Salty Pearl (1) 56.5kg5×346 |