Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The G1 Golden Rose Stakes reminded us once more of the importance of economical runs in fast races.
A red hot and revealing Golden Rose
Twelve 3-year-olds thundered through the first 800 metres of Saturday’s Group 1 feature at Rosehill Gardens in seriously slick time.
Plagiarism (Written By) went 10 lengths above standard through that opening section, making the 2026 edition a genuine test.
When Warwoven (Sword Of State) hit the line around three lengths clear of St Gotthard (Snitzel), the clock lit up, with Bjorn Baker’s charge breaking 1:21.00s – a rare feat over seven furlongs at Rosehill.
His winning time was more than seven lengths inside standard and represented a career peak by some margin for the horse that, according to his trainer, was robbed of a R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic start earlier this year.
And what that tells us is that Warwoven is a genuine 1400-metre horse and perhaps one that will appreciate further. His last 200 metres in 11.88s was the fastest of the race and, given the tempo they had run through the first 1200 metres, was indicative of a horse that should get a mile without any problems.
One thing I would mention – and I don’t want to detract in any way from his performance – is that Warwoven enjoyed an economical rails run and also had an extra run under the belt compared with the runner-up.
St Gotthard was only second-up off a soft 1200-metre run and was perhaps not quite ready for what unfolded last weekend.
Warwoven | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Warwoven wins the G1 Caulfield Guineas if they go there and could even be a G1 Cox Plate smoky if those late splits hold up over further.
As for St Gotthard, he is my top seed for the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. The Golden Rose is the highest-rated 3-year-old event we’ve seen so far this season – by some margin – and he can only improve.
Oddly enough, if I owned a slot in the G1 Everest, he would be the one I would give my space to.
Slow tempo suits the sprinters in Pendant
Lazzura (Snitzel) won a slowly-run G2 Golden Pendant after stalking a tempo that was more than six lengths below standard.
Here’s the context: if you stopped the tape at the 600-metre mark, she would have been around 15 to 16 lengths behind Warwoven – same track, same distance, same day.
Only Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) got home quicker than Lazzura, but that’s her. She’s a nippy dasher and, despite the typical narrative that a slow pace suits leaders, this particular race shape actually suited Verona Rose, who sat towards the tail before clocking the fastest last 400 metres of the entire meeting.
The Golden Pendant race shape didn’t suit fifth-placed Surfin' Bird (The Autumn Sun).
She didn’t break 11 seconds for any section throughout the contest and, off this sort of tempo – which she set, mind you – you need to dash a lot harder to figure.
Follow her. You might get overs in the ring next start.
Shannon sewn up for Skyhook
Skyhook (Written Tycoon) went a tad quicker than Lazzura when he led the G2 Shannon Stakes field.
The scratching of Magnatear (Written Tycoon) handed the progressive galloper a soft lead and, once that happened, he was never in doubt, being allowed to scoot home in 22.4s/11.5s.
He will skip the G1 Epsom Handicap and target the G1 Golden Eagle. If you remove Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) from the equation, he’s a huge chance.
Fast fillies to follow
Blue Door (Stay Inside) grabbed an Everest slot after smashing standard time by seven lengths in the G3 Heritage Stakes.
She set a fast tempo and kept going.
What’s interesting about her heading towards October 17 is that she is one of the only genuine natural-speed runners currently holding a slot for the big one.
While Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) stole the show at Caulfield on Sunday, clocking blistering splits to win the G1 Manikato Stakes, one filly you can follow going forward is Over The Bridge (Toronado {Ire}).
Settling fourth off an even tempo, her last 600 metres was almost five length inside standard – quite the feat for a filly coming straight out of a maiden in the bush.
Whether she gets to the dizzy heights of a Coolmore Stud Stakes remains to be seen, but I would be surprised if she doesn’t win a fillies’ event over a similar trip in the coming weeks.
One for the fans
Last but not least, we have to talk about Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).
How good is it that Australian racing can still boast a 9-year-old mare capable of running her rivals into the ground in the G2 Feehan Stakes?
Her best days are definitely behind her. One week she can run them into the ground like she did on Sunday, then the next she can drop out and finish last.
Jenni is like a box of chocolates – you never know what you’re gonna get.
But the fans don’t care.
Because they know a horse like Jenni is something you hold on to, not turf out of the game simply because she’s past her best.
