A quality field of fillies and mares will chase Group 1 success in Saturday’s Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.
Popular mare Icebath finally broke through for a deserved win at the highest level in last year’s edition, but she was just one of many high-quality gallopers that have saluted in the Empire Rose Stakes since its inception in the 80s.
Will another famous winner be crowned on Saturday? You can find my 2023 Empire Rose Stakes Tips below.
Suggested Bets
- 3 Units straight out #3 Hope In Your Heart
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
Empire Rose Stakes – Winner
One mare that has been knocking on the door of a Group 1 win, and in my opinion is deserved of one, is Hope In Your Heart.
Throughout the last twelve months particularly, Hope In Your Heart has been a standout for the Kerry Parker yard, picking off a couple of nice Group 2 races and going close in others like The Golden Eagle, the Doncaster Mile and the Queen Of The Turf.
She’s yet to strike in three starts back this time, but this is the ultimate goal, and she steps out a model of fitness.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Hope In Your Heart
Empire Rose Stakes – 2nd
Alcohol Free turned in an improved performances behind Espiona in The Invitation at Randwick last weekend, and I love that she’s on the short back up into the Empire Rose.
Alcohol Free is yet to live up to the enormous hype that surrounded her arrival in Australia, but there is no denying how good she was over in the UK, and she won multiple Group 1 races, while also finding form around the likes of Baaeed.
She failed to beat a runner home in The Everest two runs back, but a mile and mares’ company does look a lot more appropriate for her.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Alcohol Free
Empire Rose Stakes – 3rd
Atishu opened a warm favourite in Empire Rose Stakes betting earlier this week, and her best form is good enough to see her winning.
Having picked off some lovely races and found form around plenty of above-average opposition during her first few preparations, Atishu finally realised her Group 1 potential in the autumn of this year, and hit the line to win the Queen Of The Turf Stakes impressively.
She didn’t show a lot in the King Charles III at her latest appearance, but her first two runs back this time were full of merit, and she’s another who should find her best over a mile at Flemington this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 Atishu
Empire Rose Stakes – 4th
She has drawn horrifically into the Empire Rose Stakes field in 16, but there’s almost no doubt that Barbie’s Fox is in career-best form, and I am keen to see her at Flemington on Saturday.
The Foxwedge mare won at Listed level back in July and has returned three smart performances in the spring, finishing just over a length fourth in the Epsom Handicap before only just missing in the Ladies Day Vase at her latest.
She looks to be in peak order, while the booking of in-form jockey Mark Zahra adds confidence to her chances this week.
Suggested Bet: No. 8 Barbie’s Fox
