Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Tempted to beat history – and the boys!
The G1 Golden Rose was first run at Group 1 level in 2009. In 2005, the race was given this name, and prior to that was the G2 Peter Pan Stakes. The vast list of stallions who’ve won this race since it was upgraded includes Broadsiding, Jacquinot, In The Congo, Ole Kirk, Bivouac, The Autumn Sun, Trapeze Artist, Astern, Exosphere, Hallowed Crown, Zoustar, Epaulette, Toorak Toff, and Denman.
Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) won the race as a colt and retired to stud but was subfertile, and so far has only 18 live foals in his only crop who are being born this spring. He’s since been gelded and returned to training.
Only one gelding has won it at Group 1 level being Manawanui (Oratorio {Ire}), while no filly has taken it out since it was upgraded. The last filly to win the race was Forensics (Flying Spur) who won the Group 2 2007/08 version when it was moved to the autumn after being postponed when Equine Influenza broke out in the spring of 2007.
Tempted | Image courtesy of Sportpix
But that looks likely to change with hot favourite Godolphin-owned Tempted (Street Boss {USA}). She won three of her six starts at two, including the G2 Reisling Stakes and G2 Percy Sykes Stakes, when trained by James Cummings.
The 3-year-old filly returned in fine form at her first start at three with victory in the G2 Run To The Roses. Punters have installed her as the favourite.
“That’s what she’d shown us, she was already a very well credentialed filly, she trialled very well and her work was first class at home so I wasn’t surprised but was certainly delighted to see it,” trainer Ciaron Maher said.
Ciaron Maher | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“On ratings to go from what she did as a 2-year-old, which was up there with the best of them, and then to rate where she did on her return run was pretty exciting. There’s no reason why she wouldn’t continue to improve.
“She’s in good order, she seems in very similar shape to what she did first-up. The 1400 metres is a new challenge, she was quite dominant the other day, and it will be a tactical affair I’d imagine.
“She’s (Tempted) in good order, she seems in very similar shape to what she did first-up.” - Ciaron Maher
“Looking at how she ran at 1200 metres she was strong through the line, you wouldn’t think she’s going to be much different over 1400 metres. Ethan (Brown) having a sit on her I think is definitely a bonus, he’s riding in very good form and with a lot of confidence and I’m sure he will make the right call.”
Godolphin won the race last year with Broadsiding, and this year, they also have Chris Waller-trained Beiwacht (Bivouac) in the race. “Why is he running over 1400? Because we have confidence in him that he can settle,” Waller said.
Beiwacht | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Sure he’ll be on pace but I’ve been really impressed with each of his runs. He stuck on gamely to beat all the boys home in the Run To The Rose, only beaten by Tempted who I think is a proper Group 1 horse. He has the right form.”
Farnan and Snitzel dominate Listed Heritage field
With 12 runners set to sprint at Randwick in the Listed Heritage Stakes, Farnan and Snitzel look set to take line honours with the pair having more than half the field between them. Farnan will be represented by North England, King Of Pop, Farnicle, and Grand Eagle.
“North England was probably a bit disappointing there first-up, he’s back in trip and blinkers are on,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.
“I’ve liked the horse all the way through. I can be forgiving of that first-up run and the blinkers might just help to sharpen him up slightly.”
Snitzel has Beadman, Marhoona, and Comedy. The return of the G1 Golden Slipper winner Marhoona will be watched with interest after she was scratched from last week’s G2 The Shorts.
Marhoona | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“When I had a look at the set-up of the race and the weight she was going to carry, she was only getting a kilo off Joliestar and the barrier was a little bit of a concern too,” trainer Michael Freedman said.
“We thought, we'll just go against her own age group and hopefully onto the Roman Consul (Stakes) after that.
“I'm really happy with her. She worked great here last Tuesday (week) and it was really just deciding to wait and go to (this) week.”
“I'm really happy with her (Marhoona). She worked great here last Tuesday (week) and it was really just deciding to wait and go to (this) week.” - Michael Freedman
Of the rest of the field Hidden Motive and Akaysha both run for Capitalist. Central Coast (Wootton Bassett {GB}), Burma Star (Exceed And Excel) and Zumbo (Zoustar) round out the field.
Skyhook key rival to Tempted
With so many stallions winning the G1 Golden Rose, Skyhook (Written Tycoon) is one who is putting his hand up for the chance. Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, he won the G3 Pago Pago Stakes at two, backing up a week later into the G1 Golden Slipper where he ran seventh.
Skyhook returned to win the Listed Rosebud Stakes at his first outing at three. Last start, he was third in the G2 Run To The Rose. “He had to do it the hard way into the Slipper but this time it’s been a different sort of a prep,” jockey Kerrin McEvoy said.
“He didn’t thicken right up in his break but he got a lot taller and grew up a fair bit, he’s progressed from two to three which is what you need to do.
Skyhook | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“Although many of his opposition have had a go (at 1400m) I’m more than hopeful he will enjoy it.”
“It’s a small field and he’s a bit versatile as we’ve seen and that can often offset a barrier draw. He can be close, he can be just off them. It’s going to be a different race compared to the quickly run Run To The Rose.
“Providing he can step away it gives us options to where we can park up. He’s going to need to bring his best and I’m confident of him running well.”
“He’s (Skyhook) going to need to bring his best and I’m confident of him running well.” - Kerrin McEvoy
Skyhook is the second foal of Madame Pauline (Redoute’s Choice) who is a winning half-sister to Anders, who has started his stud career well for Widden Stud, and Listed winner Ostraka (Pariah).
Minor accident puts Ferivia on Guineas pathway
Phillip Stokes is philosophical about the minor accident that resulted in his 3-year-old filly Ferivia (Astern) being scratched from last week’s Listed Jim Moloney Stakes. She’ll run in Saturday’s G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Sandown instead.
“She slipped on the concrete and grazed her fetlock, and it was just enough for us to pull her out,” Stokes said of the accident on the Thursday prior to the Jim Moloney Stakes.
“It happened a couple of days before and there was a bit of swelling there, so we didn't want to risk her as we couldn't treat her, so we pulled her out and we're hoping it was the right thing to do.
Ferivia | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We think having only one more run and going to the Guineas would be better for her anyway.
“So, we think it's a blessing, not that you want those little things to happen, but if she had run last week, she would probably have had to go to the Edward Manifold and then onto the Thousand Guineas.”
“We think having only one more run and going to the Guineas would be better for her (Ferivi) anyway.” - Phillip Stokes
The Guineas Prelude is run over 1400 metres with the Guineas over a mile. “She's got to show us that she's looking for a mile and the 1400 metres at Sandown is pretty tough, so that will tell us one way or another,” Stokes said.
There are only three fillies in the field with more than one victory to their name, with all the rest having cleared their maiden. Ferivia has won two of her four starts including the G3 Quezette Stakes two starts ago.
Last start G3 SAJC Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Ethereum Girl (Maurice {Jpn}) won two from four at two and resumes here for the Hayes brothers.
Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk) is the only other filly in the field with two wins, having won both her starts at two. She was fifth in the Listed Atlantic Jewel Stakes at her first, and so far only, run as a 3-year-old.
