The Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes – a centrepiece of the Derby Day program at Flemington in Melbourne, Australia – promises an exhilarating showdown this year, with a full field of 16 top-class mare slated to vie for the coveted A$1 million prize.
Leading the charge is the Chris Waller-trained Atishu, who, after finishing fifth in last year's edition, has emerged as the early favourite with leading betting sites. The daughter of Savabeel showed her mettle with a second-place finish in the Group 2 Golden Pendant two starts back, indicating she will be a force to be reckoned with on Saturday.
Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott's Alcohol Free impressed with a fourth-place finish in The Invitation just a week ago. While she has yet to secure a victory in Australia, her recent strong showings suggest she is on the cusp of a breakthrough.
Wishlor Lass, coming off an impressive sixth win from eight starts at Moonee Valley, has opted for the Empire Rose over the Matriarch Stakes. Jockey Damian Lane, instrumental in her previous Group 3 victories, will be replaced by John Allen for this race.
Princess Grace, initially tipped for Group 1 glory after strong showings in the Winx Stakes and Memsie Stakes, faces uncertainty following a surprise defeat in the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes. The daughter of Karakontie aims for redemption in the Empire Rose.
Wrote To Arataki, a standout performer in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield, is anticipated to play a pivotal role in dictating the race's pace.
Kerry Parker-trained Hope In Your Heart, fresh off an eighth-place finish in the King Charles III Stakes, will make her Flemington debut in the Empire Rose, adding an element of unpredictability to the field.
Trainers Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman will field two contenders, Life Lessons and Shuffle Dancer, each with their own aspirations for victory. Life Lessons is seeking consecutive wins after triumphing in the Rose Of Kingston, while Shuffle Dancer comes in off a strong second in the Tristarc Stakes.
Racing enthusiasts can catch all the action of the 2023 Empire Rose Stakes, slated as race eight on the Flemington program, with a scheduled jump time of 5pm AEDT this Saturday afternoon.