The last of three Group 1 feature races on Derby Day will see many talented mares and one filly contest the Empire Rose Stakes!
Wednesday’s barrier draw fiasco is thankfully behind us, and it’s now all systems go in one of the most open features of the entire Melbourne Spring Carnival.
I’ve run the rule over the lot, and you can find my complete 2022 Empire Rose Stakes Tips below.
Suggested Bets
- 3 Units E/W #2 Nimalee
- Boxed Trifecta of the selections below
I’ve put Nimalee on top of my 2022 Empire Rose Stakes Tips.
The So You Think mare has been an outstanding horse for the Matt Smith yard since debuting, and she realised her top line potential with a dominant performance and win in the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes back in April.
She has returned several typically smart performances this time, highlighted by her win in the Group 2 Golden Pendant, and she should enjoy everything about the Empire Rose Stakes and the general conditions this week.
She’s Licketysplit is the only three-year-old filly confirmed in the Empire Rose Stakes field and will carry just 49kgs.
The Kiwi raider has been a strong and consistent performer since resuming this time, recording two wins and as many placings from her four starts, including an eye-catching effort to strike in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes.
She’s rock-hard fit and I simply cannot see past the enormous drop in weight that she will enjoy this week. With even luck, I think she’ll prove hard to hold out.
Talented Kiwi La Crique will make her first Australian appearance in the Empire Rose Stakes and she has opened our early favourite.
Understandably so, because the Vadamos mare has recorded six wins and four minors from her ten career starts to date, and she was nothing short of dominant in the Group 1 Arrowfield Stud Plate over a mile earlier this month.
James McDonald takes the ride and given his current form, that obviously enhances La Crique’s chances of success.
Icebath was a big winner at Wednesday’s barrier redraw and the $16 about her in Empire Rose Stakes betting (at publish) is overs.
The Sacred Falls mare incredibly still hasn’t won a black type races, but she has been a strong and consistent performer in some of our best contests for several seasons, and she has subsequently won more than $4.5 million in prizemoney.
She was pretty flat in The Invitation last week, but that was a rare blip on an otherwise outstanding record, and she can bounce back this week.