2011 Golden Rose Stakes Preview & Tips

Golden Rose Stakes Preview & Tips

The Tooheys New Golden Rose at Rosehill on Saturday is the first Group 1 race of the 2011/12 racing season. There are only six runners in the million dollar race and it is the smallest field on the eight-race card, which also features a Group 2, Group 3 and a Listed race. The set weight race for three-year olds is over a distance of 1500 metres and there are no fillies this year. The field includes the winners of both of the major lead-up races: the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes over 1300m on 20 August (Manawanui) and the Group 3 Run To The Rose over 1200m on 27 August (Smart Missile). The track was rated good at acceptance time with a few showers expected before Saturday.

Runners in the 2011 Golden Rose at Rosehill

Smart Missile ($1.85) has had 3 starts for 3 wins and is the only horse to have ever beaten Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper winner Sepoy. He resumed from a spell to beat a quality field where he drew the outside barrier and was restrained last, two wide, for a spectacular wind-up over the final 100 metres of the race to win by a neck. Three of the horses he beat there are also in this race. The one to beat.

Helmet ($4) is a Peter Snowden trained colt with 4 wins and 2 places from 6 starts. Two of those wins were the Group 1 Sires Produce over 1400m and the Group 1 Champagne Stakes over 1600m, both in the autumn. He is the only horse in the field who has won beyond 1300m. He resumed for 3^rd in the Run To The Rose and meets Smart Missile 1.5 kg better at the weights, after being beaten by a little over a length. A great chance with the weight and proven over the distance.

Manawanui ($7) resumed from a spell with a 4.3 length win in heavy ground in the Up and Coming Stakes 3 weeks ago. On the basis of that he should have no problems running out the 1500m and is a genuine chance in this small field as he has 3 wins and a place from 4 starts.

Foxwedge ($8.50) resumed as a three-year-old with a win in the Group 3 San Domenico then was a close second to Smart Missile in the Run To The Rose last start, giving their sire, Fastnet Rock, the quinella in the race. All 3 of his wins have been over 1100m, and his 3 starts beyond that distance he has looked to tire a little over the concluding stages, so may struggle with the 1500m.

Aeronautical ($9) has won his last 2 starts. Both of them have been over 1200m at Randwick on dead tracks and both times he has produced a powerful finish at the end of his races. This is his first race at Group level but his wins were by 1.3 lengths and 3.5 lengths, so do not dismiss him.

Flight Of Pegasus ($101) is the outsider of the field whose only win so far has been a maiden plate at Wyong. He came 3^rd in the Group 3 Skyline Stakes and the Group 3 The Schweppes as a two-year old and resumed with 5^th of 7 behind Smart Missile in the Run To The Rose.

Jo’s Tips – Golden Rose Stakes

- Top Tip: (2.) Smart Missile
- Danger: (4.) Manawanui
- Trifecta: (1.) Helmet