The end of the racing season has many of us looking forward to the next and the first big test for the three year-olds comes in the Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) on September 25 and with 200 plus nominations there are plenty of dreams alive, but in reality very few winning hopes.
Since the Golden Rose was first upgraded to Group I status in 2009 a filly has never won the race and the trend is unlikely to change this year given the utter domination of the colts in every single Group I juvenile race this season.
The 12 winners of the race from 2009 onwards were all stakes-winners at two, with the only exceptions being Denman and Manawanui, who were both very promising multiple metro winners.
In searching for the winner of this year’s race, what all this means is we can rule out all fillies and all colts and geldings that are not already metro winners at worst.
So what does that leave?
The Newgate young gun sires all have winning hopes.
Capitalist has his best chance with Captivant, who was spelled after winning the Group I ATC Champagne Stakes, while his barn mate Extreme Choice has both of his big guns in Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside and Group II BRC Sires Produce Stakes winner Tiger of Malay entered.
Not to be outdone, Flying Artie has his Blue Diamond winner Artorius in contention.
Champion sire Fastnet Rock has quality colts O’President and Hilal as his top chances.
Frankel gelding Converge won the Group I BRC JJ Atkins and if he comes into the Golden Rose fresh would be hard to beat.
Godolphin have a great record in the race having won it with Denman, Epaulette, Exosphere, Astern and Bivouac.
Their primary chances this year would appear to be Anamoe (Street Boss (USA), Ingratiating (Frosted (USA), Paulele (Dawn Approach (IRE),
Group II ATC Silver Slipper winner Home Affairs would be the obvious front runner for I Am Invincible.
Maurice (Jpn) has a couple of contenders in Mazu and Silent Impact that have both shown the right sort of form and potential to be considered.
Pride of Dubai has a live chance in very promising colt Saif, who thumped Converge when winning the Group III ATC Schweppervescence Stakes, while his barn mate Vancouver might have a prospect in Cape Breton.
Sebring has 10 entries and the best would be Three Kings, a Listed stakes-winner at Flemington over 1400m.
Shalaa (IRE) has his Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Shaquero in the hunt.
Snitzel has a whopping 25 entries and the best are Kiwi trained Group I winner Sword of State, stakes-winner Royalzel and Estijaab’s little brother Remarque.
Spirit of Boom has a hope with Prince of Boom, who has the right trainer to surprise in Rob Heathcote.
Written Tycoon has 10 entries, but can hang his hat on quality colt Finance Tycoon, who has had a stable change and will run this season for Danny O’Brien.
Zoustar won the Golden Rose in 2013 and had a Sydney debut winner this week in Starman that will need to go ahead in leaps and bounds to figure, but there was a bit to like about him!
Click here to see the 2021 Golden Rose entries.
