The Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes is always an outstanding horse race and this year is no different with a field of quality fillies and mares assembled for the 1600m race at Flemington on Saturday.
The race has been won by some quality fillies and mares including Divine Madonna, Typhoon Tracy, Red Tracer and Melody Belle.
Our 2021 Empire Rose Stakes Preview can be viewed below.
Colette
Colette has been an outstanding mare for Godolphin winning $5.3 million in prizemoney over her career to date.
She has won seven of 19 overall with six of those wins on a rain affected track.
Her two runs to start this prep were below her best but she bounced back to winning form when the conditions suited last start.
At her best she is clearly capable of winning a race of this quality but I think she is under the odds at the current price.
Mystic Journey
Group 1 winner Mystic Journey puts even more quality into the 2021 Empire Rose Stakes field and the popular mare is right in the market as it stands.
The inaugural winner of the All-Star Mile in 2019, both her runs so far this prep at group 2 level have been full of merit.
She has three wins from six starts third up from a spell but she is another I’m happy to take on at her current quote.
Tofane
Tofane finished her Queensland winter prep with back to back Group 1 victories in the Stradbroke Handicap and Tatt’s Tiara.
She was narrowly denied in the Memsie Stakes at Caulfield before getting within a length of the star of the spring so far Incentivise on the Makybe Diva Stakes.
The Mike Moroney trained mare was cramped for room at a vital stage in the Toorak Handicap behind I’m Thunderstruck last start and would have gone awfully close to winning with even luck.
She is the best mare in the country at the moment and looks very well placed in this race.
Anything over $3 is overs.
Sierra Sue
Sierra Sue is one of five mares in this race to have earned over $1 million in prize money for connections and she has gone to another level during her spring campaign so far.
She managed three wins from four starts leading into the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke where she suffered from an irregular heart beat during the run and was subsequently pulled up.
Forget she went around in that race and she represents a fair amount of value at her current price of $31.
Still A Star
What a consistent mare Still A Star has been for connections with 10 wins from 18 career starts.
The five year old mare has missed a placed just once in her career and she comes into this Group 1 race off the back of a narrow victory in the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes.
She beat home Mystic Journey last start but meets that mare 1kg worse at the weights for this.
Drawn in barrier five with Luke Currie steering.
Nimalee
Nimalee has been racing well throughout this prep so far without winning.
She has been placed in 11 of her 17 career race starts and comes into this Group 1 race off the back of a fourth behind Colette in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes.
Would need to improve to be a chance in a race of this quality.
Mirra Vision
Mirra Vision is a mare that has continued to progress through the grades and gets her chance at the highest level now.
She has won four of her seven starts so far this prep including a career ratings high when taking out the Group 3 Angst Stakes at Royal Randwick last start.
When these mares are in form, it is tough to rule them out but she will again need to raise the bar in a field with as much quality as this one.
Hungry Heart
The 2021 Australian Oaks winner Hungry Heart has been far from disgraced in all three of her runs so far this prep.
She has finished within three lengths of the winner in the Winx Stakes, George Main Stakes and Epsom Handicap.
The two-time Group 1 winner is capable of producing a rating high enough to feature in this event and she represents good value at the each way odds.
Amarelinha
Amarelinha was excellent when finishing fourth in the Group 1 Australian Oaks in her Australian racing debut back in April and connections were obviously happy enough that they sent her back for the spring.
She’s has had two runs so far this prep at group 3 level and was doing her best work late in each.
1600m at Flemington looks ideal for her and she has the added benefit of James McDonald as well as barrier four.
Sirileo Miss
Sirileo Miss has earned her shot at group 1 glory with three consecutive wins at Sandown and Caulfield.
She showed her tenacity when taking out the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase last start when settling right on the pace and running right through the line.
The tricky draw in barrier 15 is a concern as is her class at this level.
Harmony Rose
Harmony Rose has been a consistent performer throughout her short racing career having placed seven times from 10 starts.
The grey mare was not beaten far in the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase behind Sirileo Miss and she’d need to improve dramatically to be a chance in this race.
Kiku
The second of Chris Waller’s runners is the four year old mare Kiku who comes through the Group 3 Angst Stakes at Randwick.
Brett Prebble on top is a big advantage but I prefer others.
Flying Mascot
Flying Mascot is a very progressive mare who couldn’t have been any more impressive when winning the Group 3 Tesio Stakes at The Valley last start.
The daughter of Tavistock is bred to stay but failures in the Auraria Stakes (1800m) and Australasian Oaks (2000m) had the team setting her for the shorter trips.
She gets in with 56.5kgs and has drawn well in barrier seven.
One of the leading chances.
Pride Of Jenni
Pride Of Jenni was well beaten in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes and would need to improve to be any chance in a race of this quality.
She has two seconds from two goes at Flemington.
Steinem
Steinem also comes through the Tristarc Stakes where she was beaten just over a length behind Colette.
The daughter of Frankel has two wins from just six career race starts and this might be a bit early for a mare with her experience.
