Empire Rose Stakes (Myer Classic)

See the 2023 Empire Rose Stakes Preview and results

See the 2022 Empire Rose Stakes Preview and results

See the 2020 Empire Rose Stakes Preview and results

The Empire Rose Stakes/Myer Classic was first held as a listed race called The Honda Legend in 1988 over 1600 metres when it was won by the tough mare Concordance under set weights and penalties for mares. It has had several name changes and has increased in status over the years. It has been known as the Hong Kong Bank Stakes, Hardy Brothers Classic, Nestle Peters Classic, Empire Rose Stakes and became the Myer Classic in 2005.

In 2003 the conditions were amended from set weights and penalties to weight-for-age and three-year-old fillies were allowed to run. The following year, 2004, it was granted Group 1 status and it is the only Group 1 race of the Melbourne Spring Carnival for fillies and mares. It is also gave Derby Day its fourth Group 1 race making it one of the best racing programs in the world.

Lead-up races are the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes over 1400 metres, the Ladies Day Vase, the Thousand Guineas, the Group 2 Waterford Crystal Mile over 1600 metres and the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over 1600 metres. Since the race gained Group 1 status the Group 1 Cox Plate has also been the lead-up race for several runners. Some horses will continue on from the Myer Classic by running in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes over 1600 metres the following week.

In 2021 Racing Victoria decided to offer a $1 million bonus for any horse that wins one of the 12 black-type races listed below and then wins the Empire Rose Stakes.

• Group 1 Coolmore Classic (1500m)
• Group 1 NZ Breeders Stakes (1600m)
• Group 1 Tatts Tiara (1400m)
• Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m)
• Group 2 Stocks Stakes (1600m)
• Group 2 Rose of Kingston Stakes (1400m)
• Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m)
• Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m)
• Group 3 Ladies Day Vase (1600m)
• Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m)
• Group 2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic (1600m)
• Group 3 Tesio Stakes (1600m)

This could be in response to The Invitation which is one of Racing NSW’s new big money races for fillies and mares.

Last 3YO filly to win: Shoals (2017)

Multiple winners: none

Fastest time (1600m): Market Price (2001) 1:34:20

Interesting trivia:

The Myer Classic attracts top quality fillies and mares, and a win in this prestigious race will vastly increase their value as a broodmare. In the few years since it has been a Group 1 race it has been won by horses form Victoria, New South Wales and New Zealand. When I Am A Star won in 2016 she was the first three-year-old to win although Alinghi was narrowly beaten by New Zealand trained Miss Potential in the 2004 photo finish. Forensics (2008) was the first Golden Slipper winner to win the Myer Classic.

From the archives:

2018 Myer Classic Preview & Tips:

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There is a full field of 16 plus an emergency for the $500,000 Empire Rose Stakes/Myer Classic. Five of them had their last start in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes, four in the G3 Ladies Day Vase, two in the G1 Thousand Guineas and two in the G3 Tesio Stakes. The betting is fairly open and the early favourite is Amphitrite who won the G1 Thousand Guineas last start making it 4 wins from 4 runs this campaign. Second favourite is Shillelagh who followed 4^th in the Epsom Handicap with 4^th in the Toorak Handicap, and will go well back against her own sex. Third favourite is Oohood who won the Flight Stakes before 3^rd in the Caulfield Guineas.

Aloisia recorded the day’s best closing sectionals when 3^rd in the Tristarc last outing and will appreciate the extra 200m. Shumookh won the Tristarc and has won 2 of her last 3 starts. Invincibella was 2^nd in the Tristarc and won the G2 Blazer Stakes prior to that. I Am A Star won this race in 2016 and has won her last 3 starts – two Group 2’s and the G3 Ladies Day Vase. All other runners are currently 14 to 1 or longer, including Eckstein who ran 2^nd last year.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.