The Golden Rose has become one of Australia's most significant stallion-making races since it was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2009.

Nine of the eleven winners of the race are currently at stud, a similar record to another major spring stallion-making race, the G1 Caulfield Guineas over that time. Seven of the winners of the G1 Coolmore Stud S., from 2009 are also currently at stud including last year's winner and Golden Rose third placegetter Exceedance who now stands at Vinery Stud.

The upgrading of the race was significant in terms of timing for Darley, who currently stand three Golden Rose winners. Last year's winner Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) will join their stallion lineup in due course, while runner-up Yes Yes Yes began his breeding career at Coolmore earlier this month after winning the TAB Everest S.

The race for stallion acquisition

Of the eight colts lining up in the G1 Golden Rose on Saturday, only King's Legacy (Redoute's Choice) has secured a place on a stallion roster - set to join Yes Yes Yes at Coolmore.

So if the hot favourite, Rothfire, is to be beaten, the race will be on to secure lucrative breeding rights.

The $1.4 million purchase price of King's Legacy tops the sale prices, however three other colts were secured for $500,000 or more. Brazen Beau colt North Pacific was purchased for $800,000 by Orbis Bloodstock, Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) was purchased from the same Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $675,000 by Mark Player's International Bloodstock Solutions, while Sauvestre (Hinchinbrook) was purchased by Aquis for $500,000 from the Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Being out of a sister to Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and half-sister to All Too Hard, Ole Kirk is an exciting stallion proposition and as a stakes winning 2-year-old, would be a worthy heir apparent to his Champion sire Written Tycoon if he can secure the lucrative Group 1 prize.

Sauvestre is out of a Zabeel (NZ) daughter of Hong Kong Derby-winner Elegant Fashion (Danewin) and half-sister to Group winning mare Star Fashion (Street Cry {Ire}), so also boasts a rich pedigree for a stallion career. He was the most expensive colt by his sire Hinchinbrook offered for sale that year, sadly the final crop for the exciting young stallion who died just prior to turning 11.

Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}) is seeking to become the first winner of the G3 ATC Breeders' Plate and G1 ATC Golden Rose S. double, providing a mouth-watering CV that would secure another lucrative stallion opportunity for Aquis Farm. A $340,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase, he is from the Fastnet Rock mare Global Dream, a three-quarter sister to Star Thoroughbreds' multiple Group-winning mare Noire (Foxwedge).

Broodmare sires shine

It is interesting to note the high quality broodmare sires that have shone through the pedigrees of the Golden Rose field.

Both Rothfire and King's Legacy are out of mares by Hussonet (USA), an exceptional broodmare sire who has nicked with particular affinity with the Redoute's Choice sireline. Both Extreme Choice and Pariah are bred on that cross, as is King's Legacy. Hussonet is the broodmare sire of six Group 1 winners, including this duo, and an additional 20 stakes winners from his Australasian-bred runners alone.

Mamaragan (Wandjina) is out of a daughter of outstanding broodmare sire General Nediym, bred on the same cross as Menari and Sizzling, being by a son of Snitzel.

Champion New Zealand sire O'Reilly (NZ) is the broodmare sire of North Pacific. While Embellish (NZ) and Jon Snow (NZ) are his only damsire sons at stud to date, the Waikato Stud-star is the sire of an impressive 15 individual Group 1-producing daughters.

Fastnet Rock, the damsire of Global Quest, has one daughter to produce a Group 1-winning son at stud, with High Chaparral (Ire) stallion Tivaci (NZ) at Waikato Stud.

Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) is out of a daughter of sensational broodmare sire Elusive Quality (USA), a stallion who has top sons No Nay Never (USA) and brothers Deep Field and Shooting To Win at stud. He is also the damsire of outstanding juvenile fillies Guelph (Exceed And Excel) and Away Game (Snitzel).

Zabeel (NZ) is one of the most highly regarded broodmare sires in the Southern Hemisphere, and is represented by Sauvestre out of his daughter Dezign. Top stallions out of Zabeel's 40 individual Group 1-producing daughters include Arrowfield's exciting young sire Dundeel (NZ), Waikato Stud's Dewar Award-winning stallion Ocean Park (NZ), while emerging sires include Tarzino and Xtravagant (NZ).

A most interesting prospect is Dynamic Syndications' colt Yardstick (Criterion {NZ}), one of only 14 first crop foals by the four-time Group 1 winner Criterion. He is out of a daughter of the brilliant broodmare sire Exceed And Excel, who has an international profile with Group 1-producing daughters leaving sire sons Ten Sovereigns (Ire), Astern and Encryption, while Epsom Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck (Ire) will likely retire to the Coolmore stallion roster.

Rosehill, G1 De Bortoli Wines Golden Rose, $1,000,000, 1400m

Rothfire (Rothesay) was a dominant winner of the G2 Run To The Rose S. and it looks likely to be the same story here. He will be sharper for that outing and even a wide draw may not stop the Queenslander from lauding it over his rivals again.

The stablemates Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) and North Pacific (Brazen Beau) chased Rothfire home at their last meeting and there are good reasons to be confident they will be in the fight while Mamaragan (Wandjina) might be the improver.

So good last season when a Group 1 winner and Group 1-placed, the colt hasn’t had all favours in two runs this term and has the quality to play a hand in the finish.

King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) was never a factor when resuming, but the step up in distance could see him more competitive.

Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) was fourth in the Run To The Rose and the stable believes he can improve off that run, although he will need to. Global Quest (More Than Ready {USA}), Sauvestre (Hinchinbrook) and Yardstick (Criterion {NZ}) are smart colts but may struggle at this level.