This year’s $1 million Golden Rose promises to be one of the most competitive in years, with seven of the nine contenders trading at $16 or less. For trainer Gerald Ryan, that evenness makes the contest a wide-open affair.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if any of them won it,” Ryan said. “They’re an even bunch of good horses. You usually get three chances in it and the rest are making up the numbers but I reckon this year there are nine chances in the race.”

Skyhook, who Ryan trains in partnership with Sterling Alexiou, sits among the top chances at $6.50. The colt stormed home first-up in the Rosebud (1100m) and backed that up with a third to Tempted in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m).

Ryan followed a similar path with Menari in 2017, who completed the Rosebud–The Run To The Rose double before placing in the Golden Rose, a race eventually won by his stablemate Trapeze Artist.

“I don’t like comparing them,” Ryan said. “Menari was unlucky because he pulled a shoe off coming out of the barriers and he was stuffed afterwards. He never raced again. Trapeze Artist just kept going forward. They’re all different horses but they all had good preparations going into it.”

The stable also has strong representation in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m), with King Of Pop and Grand Eagle engaged. Blinkers go on King Of Pop, and Ryan expects him to show sharp improvement.

“King Of Pop will run heaps better. He’s got blinkers on. He’s drawn a barrier, and he won’t be going back,” Ryan said. “People say he went no good at his last start but he ran a faster last 600 (metres) than Skyhook but it was on that track where they couldn’t make ground and he drew wide and went back.”

Meanwhile, Grand Eagle is being set on a path towards the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m), and Ryan believes he could figure if the leaders overdo it.

If you’re thinking of betting on the Golden Rose, be sure to check out the leading betting sites, compare top bookmakers, and explore the best betting apps to get the best value.