Empire Rose Stakes
Australia | FEATURE RACE GUIDE
History
The Empire Rose Stakes is a Group 1 race run under weight for age conditions for fillies and mares at Flemington conducted by the Victoria Racing Club.
The Empire Rose Stakes is run over 1600m. It was first run in 1988 and was won by Concordance.
It has always been over the mile.
The Empire Rose Stakes was a Listed race from 1988 to 1994, then Group 3 to 1996, Group 2 up to 2003 before being upgraded to Group 1 thereafter.
The race is registered as the Empire Rose Stakes but was the Myer Classic since it became a G1. Empire Rose was a grand staying mare who won the Melbourne Cup in 1988. It is back to its registered name in 2018.
Even though open to fillies and mares, the fillies didn't have a great record when it became a G1. Alinghi got very close first time in 2004 and then I Am A Star became the first filly winner in 2016 with Shoals backing that up 12 months later.
No mare has won the race twice.
There is no main lead up race but the Tristarc on Caulfield Cup day is a strong pointer.
In recent seasons there have been some big priced winners – Shout The Bar $31, Politeness $21, Bonaria $26, Appearance $41, Hurtle Myrtle $16 and Sacred Choice $21 just in the last decade or so.
NSW horses have run well here (12 of last 22).
Melody Belle won her 10th G1 but the first one in Australia in 2019 when charging home. She got to 12 the following Spring.
In 2021, a $1m bonus was to be paid to winner of the Empire Rose Stakes should they also have also won the Coolmore Classic, NZ Breeders Stks, Tatts Tiara, Let's Elope Stks, Stocks Stks, Rose Of Kingston Stks, Edward Manifold Stks, Thousand Guineas, Ladies Day Vase, Tristarc Stks, Moonee Valley Classic or Tesio Stks.
Icebath FINALLY won a group race and it was a G1 as she stormed home to win the 2022 Empire Rose. She had had years of getting so close in feature races.
Pride Of Jenni won at good odds but then won the Champions Mile a week later then an All-Star Mile and a famous Queen Elizabeth Stakes in the Autumn.
The Empire Rose Stakes was worth $1,000,000 in 2024.
Notable winners of the Empire Rose Stakes include Pride Of Jenni (2023), Icebath (2022), Colette (2021), Melody Belle (2019), Shillelagh (2018), Shoals (2017), Red Tracer (2013), Appearance (2012), Sacred Choice (2010), Typhoon Tracy (2009), Forensics (2008), Divine Madonna (2007), Lotteria (2005), Miss Potential (2004), Bonanova (1998), Aunty Mary (1995), Excited Angel (1992) and Natural Wonder (1990).
The 2023 Empire Rose Stakes was won by Pride Of Jenni from Atishu and Life Lessons.
Previous Empire Rose Stakes Winners
| Date | Horse | Jockey | WT | Trainer | BP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PRIDE OF JENNI (AUS) 6M PRIDE OF DUBAI (AUS) - SANCERRE (NZ) O'REILLY (NZ) | DECLAN BATES | 57.0 | C MAHER & D EUSTACE | 16 | |
| ICEBATH (NZ) 6M SACRED FALLS (NZ) - FABULIST (NZ) SAVABEEL (AUS) | CRAIG WILLIAMS | 57.0 | BRAD WIDDUP | 3 | |
| COLETTE (AUS) 5M HALLOWED CROWN (AUS) - LIBRETTO (IRE) SINGSPIEL (IRE) | DAMIEN OLIVER | 57.0 | JAMES CUMMINGS | 8 | |
| SHOUT THE BAR (AUS) 4M NOT A SINGLE DOUBT (AUS) - DRINKS ALL ROUND (NZ) O'REILLY (NZ) | DAMIEN OLIVER | 56.5 | G WATERHOUSE & A BOTT | 11 | |
| MELODY BELLE (NZ) 5M COMMANDS (AUS) - MELEKA BELLE (NZ) IFFRAAJ (GB) | O P BOSSON | 57.0 | JAMIE RICHARDS | 13 | |
| SHILLELAGH (NZ) 7M SAVABEEL (AUS) - TROCAIR (AUS) FLYING SPUR (AUS) | JAMES MCDONALD | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 9 | |
| SHOALS (AUS) 3F FASTNET ROCK (AUS) - THE BROKEN SHORE (AUS) HUSSONET (USA) | D YENDALL | 50.0 | ANTHONY FREEDMAN | 10 | |
| I AM A STAR (NZ) 3F I AM INVINCIBLE (AUS) - STAR BAND (USA) DIXIELAND BAND (USA) | D YENDALL | 49.0 | SHANE NICHOLS | 10 | |
| POLITENESS (AUS) 5M STREET SENSE (USA) - BERENGARIA (AUS) COMMANDS (AUS) | D DUNN | 57.0 | R W SMERDON | 10 | |
| BONARIA (AUS) 6M REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - DECIDITY (AUS) LAST TYCOON (IRE) | M RODD | 57.0 | P T HYLAND | 13 | |
| RED TRACER (AUS) 6M DANE SHADOW (AUS) - KISMA (AUS) SNIPPETS (AUS) | N RAWILLER | 57.0 | CHRIS WALLER | 10 | |
| APPEARANCE (AUS) 4M COMMANDS (AUS) - DISGUISE (AUS) GRAND LODGE (USA) | M RODD | 57.0 | G H WALTER | 13 | |
| HURTLE MYRTLE (AUS) 5M DANE SHADOW (AUS) - RAVENSWOOD (AUS) WOODMAN (USA) | DAMIEN OLIVER | 57.0 | MATTHEW SMITH | 13 | |
| SACRED CHOICE (AUS) 5M CHOISIR (AUS) - SACRED HABIT (NZ) SIR TRISTRAM (IRE) | C W BROWN | 57.0 | JOSEPH PRIDE | 6 | |
| TYPHOON TRACY (AUS) 4M RED RANSOM (USA) - TRACY'S ELEMENT (AUS) LAST TYCOON (IRE) | L NOLEN | 56.5 | PETER G MOODY | 12 | |
| FORENSICS (AUS) 4M FLYING SPUR (AUS) - PROVE IT (AUS) DEHERE (USA) | K MCEVOY | 57.0 | PETER SNOWDEN | 5 | |
| DIVINE MADONNA (AUS) 5M HURRICANE SKY (AUS) - MY MADONNA (AUS) PREGO (IRE) | M RODD | 56.5 | MARK KAVANAGH | 11 | |
| LYRICAL BID (AUS) 6M SPINNING WORLD (USA) - OH PRETTY WOMAN (AUS) JEVINGTON (AUS) | CRAIG WILLIAMS | 55.5 | BRIAN MAYFIELD-SMITH | 1 | |
| LOTTERIA (AUS) 4M REDOUTE'S CHOICE (AUS) - ROSE REWARD (NZ) SIR TRISTRAM (IRE) | L V CASSIDY | 55.0 | MS G WATERHOUSE | 3 | |
| MISS POTENTIAL (AUS) 6M DOLPHIN STREET (FR) - RICHFIELD ROSE (NZ) CRESTED WAVE (USA) | G BOSS | 55.5 | BILL BORRIE | 4 | |
| ZANNA (NZ) 4M PENTIRE (GB) - POSING (NZ) TRULY VAIN (AUS) | C W BROWN | 55.5 | JOHN HAWKES | 4 | |
| MISS ZOE (AUS) 6M ZOFFANY (USA) - IVORY ROSE (AUS) GAIN CONTROL (AUS) | J SHEEHAN | 55.5 | L J BRIDGE | 11 | |
| MARKET PRICE (AUS) 6M SCENIC (IRE) - KIA ORA GEM (AUS) MARSCAY (AUS) | G BOSS | 58.5 | TONY MCEVOY | 1 | |
| SEQUEL (NZ) 4M CENTAINE (AUS) - SEQUITA (NZ) SOVEREIGN EDITION (IRE) | D GAUCI | 54.0 | ROBERT PRISCOTT | 16 |
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