Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
The Empire Rose S. is a Group 1 race, named in honour of the champion mare Empire Rose (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), who completed the 1988 Mackinnon S. and Melbourne Cup double.
Open to fillies and mares, the 1600-metre race is run under weight-for-age conditions at Flemington.
It was first held in 1988, with the Colin Hayes-trained Concordance (Hauberk) victorious.
The race carried Listed status from 1988-1994. It was a Group 3 in 1995/96, a Group 2 up to 2003, before being upgraded in 2004.
It has also been named the Honda Legend, Hardy Brothers Classic, the Nestle Peters Classic, and between 2015-17 it was the Myer Classic.
Three-year-old fillies became eligible in 2002 when the race went from set weights plus penalties, to weight for age.
Not surprisingly, the race’s honour roll is ladened with class. Notable winners include Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}), Forensics (Flying Spur), Lotteria (Redoute’s Choice), Miss Potential (Dolphin Street {Fr}), Aunty Mary (Copper Kingdom {USA}), Excited Angel (Don’t Say Halo {USA}) and Natural Wonder (Aurilandy).
Legacies
Horses with the NZ suffix have enjoyed a great record in recent times. Last year, Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) finally broke her Group 1 duck, while in 2019 the brilliant Melody Belle was first home. Savabeel mare Shillelagh (NZ) won 12 months earlier, while Shane Nichols’ gun filly I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) proved too good in 2016.
The great Damien Oliver has won the race on three occasions - Colette (Hallowed Crown) in 2021, Shout The Bar (Not A Single Doubt) in 2020 and Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow) in 2011.
In terms of trainers, Gai Waterhouse has won the race twice. Her victories came via Shout The Bar (in partnership with Adrian Bott) and Lotteria in 2005. The legendary trainer has Alcohol Free (Ire) (No Nay Never {USA}) in on Saturday. Chris Waller is also a two-time winner. His successes were Shillelagh, in 2018, and Red Tracer (Dane Shadow) in 2013. He has a three-pronged attack this year, with Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}), Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) and Hinged (Worthy Cause) all to take their place in the field.
Interestingly, Dane Shadow has provided two winners - Red Tracer and Hurtle Myrtle, so too did Redoute’s Choice - Bonaria in 2014 and Lotteria. But, it is Commands that is the stallion to have the greatest influence, perhaps. He has sired two winners - Melody Belle and the 2012 victress Appearance, and he is also the damsire of the 2015 heroine Politeness.
Gallery: Progeny of Commands has possibly had the greatest influence on the G1 Empire Rose S.
Top broodmares
A number of winners have gone on to make an impact in the breeding barn.
Following Hurtle Myrtle’s triumph, she has thrown the Group 3 winner Holyfield (I Am Invincible) and the Listed scorer Vamos Bebe (I Am Invincible).
The 2007 heroine Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) produced the Listed winner Maternal (Street Cry {Ire}).
Divine Madonna, winner of the G1 Empire Rose S. in 2007 | Image courtesy of Sportpix
In 2001, Market Price (Scenic {Ire}) took the honours and she has thrown the Listed winner Colour Change (Red Dazzler).
The 1998 scorer Bonanova (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) produced two Listed winners - Bonaichi (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) and Prima Nova (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Excited Angel landed the prize in 1992 and she would later produce the Listed winner Acquiver (Danehill {USA}).
The 1990 victress Natural Wonder is the dam of the dual Group 3 scorer Hula Wonder (Hula Chief {NZ}) and she herself produced the stakes winners Sugar Bella (Not A Single Doubt) and Willy Jimmy (Dehere {USA}). Sugar Bella is the dam of last week’s Listed Crockett S. scorer Gumdrops (Written Tycoon).
And, in 1989, Echo Lass (NZ) (Prince Echo {Ire}) won the race before going on to produce the Group 1 hero Des’s Dream (NZ) (Dahar {USA}).
Furthermore, a host of mares that have retired in recent times have fetched seriously good money at various broodmare sales.
Icebath made $2.3 million at this year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale. She was bought by Yulong Stud from the Newgate Consignment. Yulong also secured Melody Belle - a 14-time Group 1 heroine - for $2.6 million from the Blue Sky Premium Consignment at the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Shout The Bar, offered by Glenesk Thoroughbreds, was purchased by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier for $2.7 million at the 2022 Inglis The Chairman’s Sale.
Fillies versus mares
Three-year-old fillies became eligible in 2002 when the race went from set weights plus penalties to weight for age.
Only two fillies have won the race; the Shane Nichols-trained I Am A Star was the first in 2016, before the beautifully bred Shoals won for Anthony Freedman and Pinecliff Racing a year later.
Shoals, winner of the G1 Empire Rose S. in 2017 | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In 2022, just one 3-year-old contested the race, that being the now-retired Lickety Split (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}). With the late Dean Holland in the saddle, she finished eighth, 2.6l off the winner. ‘Ollie’ will partner the Team Hawkes-trained More Secrets (More Than Ready {USA}) in his final ride in the race.
Lucky longshots
In recent seasons there have been a number of big-priced winners. Shout The Bar started at $31 when she won, while Politeness was a $21 chance. Bonaria was a $26 pop when she bested her rivals, and Appearance was $41 when she was first across the line.
The 2023 edition
A capacity field of 16 (plus one emergency) has accepted for this year’s running of the Empire Rose S, but none are 3-year-olds.
Just three mares boast an all-important victory at the elite-level - they being Alcohol Free, Atishu and Hinged - so there is plenty on the line for the majority of the field.
Highlighting the globalisation of racing, there is a mare with a USA suffix (Princess Grace), IRE appears twice - Alcohol Free and Deny Knowledge (Pride Of Dubai), while Atishu, Renaissance Woman (Reliable Man {GB}), Wrote To Arataki (Wrote {Ire}) and Life Lessons (Tavistock {NZ}) all carry the NZ suffix.
Both Foxwedge and Pride Of Dubai have two runners. The former has Foxy Friday and Barbie’s Fox, the latter is represented by Pride Of Jenni and Deny Knowledge.
