2024 Golden Rose Day Tips & Preview

2024 Golden Rose Day Tips & Preview

Group One racing returns to Rosehill this Saturday with the running of the $1m Golden Rose set to headline a brilliant day of racing.

Run over 1400m, the feature event for the three years will see eleven runners line up in this year’s editions, all of them colts, as they look to enhance and or secure their futures at stud.

The ten-race program will feature a further four black type events including the Group Two Golden Pedant and Group Two Shannon Stakes.

The rail will be in the true position and the track is currently rated a good 4 but with plenty of rain on the way, a downgrade is expected.

Race 1: (11:55am) MIDWAY HANDICAP BM72 (1300M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 4 The Extreme Cat

J: James McDonald (59kg) T: Nathan Doyle

The Extreme Cat has been racing in top form having put together back to back wins before a solid effort to finish fourth last start.

Settling just behind the speed the Extreme Choice gelding proved superior over the 1400m here two runs back and up to 1500m last start, he just had too much ground to make up but still worked home solidly.

He’s been freshened since that last run and looks ideally placed with the slight drop back in trip.

James McDonald stays in the saddle for Nathan Doyle and from gate seven, he’s sure to be afforded every chance.

Race 2: (12:30pm) TAB HIGHWAY HANDICAP CLASS 2 (1500M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 11 Ballinderry Sal

J: Chelsea Hillier (55kg) T: Rodney Northam

Ballinderry Sal had no luck at all here last start over the 1400m.

From a wide gate she was taken back but still got caught deep and never got into it.

The widest in the straight, she continued to made ground over the final part and should appreciate the slight rise in trip.

The Rod Northam trained mare put together back to back wins on her home track before heading to town and I think she’ll prove very competitive this time off the low draw.

She gets in nicely with the claim for Chelsea Hillier and can settle closer in the run.

Race 3: (1:05pm) TOYOTA FORKLIFTS COLIN STEPHEN QUALITY GROUP 3 (2400M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 1 Changingoftheguard

J: James McDonald (58kg) T: Kris Lees

Changingoftheguard just looked a little one paced when stepping out over the 2400m journey last time, at only his second Australian outing but he will have taken plenty of improvement from the run heading into the Colin Stephen Quality.

The European import kicked off his campaign over 1800m, where he travelled nicely in a midfield position and when asked for an effort in the straight he was strong through the line under the 61kgs.

He looked well suited up in trip last time but didn’t really make up ground in the straight.

Only lightly raced, the son of Galileo is already a dual stakes winner and I’m happy to stick with him.

James McDonald stays in the saddle and with the two runs under his belt, I think he’ll be too strong for them here.

Race 4: (1:40pm) EGROUP PROTECTIVE SERVICES HANDICAP BM88 (1900M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 8 Unusual Legacy

J: Kerrin McEvoy (58kg) T: Chris Waller

Unusual Legacy proved superior second when stepping out to 1800m and looks well placed to repeat that performance.

He was an eye catcher first up when charging home late from the back and despite settling at the tail last time, he was able to round them up in a matter of strides and pull away for a commanding win.

A winner of five from eight, the former New Zealander has continued to work with his grades with relative ease and is on track for bigger and better things.

The extra 100m will certainly suit and the 3kg weight increase won’t worry him as he can settle closer in the run from the low draw.

Race 5: (2:15pm) PETALUMA HERITAGE STAKES LISTED 3YO (1100M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win Market Mover

No. 3 Gatsby's

J: James McDonald (58kg) T: Chris Waller

Gatsby’s returns from a freshen up after an even effort in the San Domencio Stakes.

Heavily supported in the Group 3 event on the back of a dominant first up win in the Listed Rosebud, the son of Snitzel just failed to let down with that brilliant turn of foot that we’d seen previously.

James McDonald stated that he may have found the track too firm so with rain predicted, he’ll get conditions to suit.

A winner of two of his four starts, he’s shown plenty of natural and is still just learning his craft.

McDonald sticks with him and he’s assured to enjoy a soft run in transit from the inside draw.

Race 6: (2:50pm) IRRESISTIBLE POOLS & SPAS HANDICAP BM88 (1400M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 3 Superazi

J: Zac Lloyd (61kg) T: Ben Brisbourne

Superazi has been brilliant in both runs back this preparation and was unlucky not the have won when resuming.

Prepared at Wangaratta by Ben Brisbourne, the Super One gelding trialled very well prior to his return and when kicking off over the 1200m at the Valley, he charged late to just miss after being held up at a vital stage.

It was a similar story last time, again finding traffic at the top of the straight and storming home into second.

He’ll appreciate getting out onto a bigger track and the rise to 1400m looks ideal.

He gets a senior rider back in the saddle with Zac Lloyd do the steering and with clear air, he’ll be right in this.

Race 7: (3:25pm) RACING AND SPORTS GOLDEN PENDANT F&M GROUP 2 (1400M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 4 Semana

J: Dylan Gibbons (55kg) T: Ciaron Maher

Semana resumes off a short break with a terrific effort under weight for age conditions in the Winx Stakes.

She just wanted to race a bit keen through the middle stages but stuck on gamely to hold fourth, beaten only 1.3 lengths behind Via Sistina.

The daughter of Winning Rupert has gone to a new level this year, proving herself a top-class performer with three Group One placings and along with Group Three victory in the Triscay back in Feb.

With that first up run under her belt, she’s sure to settle better in the run and gets in nicely here with just 55kgs.

Dylan Gibbons knows her well and stays in the saddle for Ciaron Maher.

Race 8: (4:50pm) JAMES SQUIRE GOLDEN ROSE 3YO GROUP 1 (1400M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 4 Linebacker

J: Kerrin McEvoy (56.5kg) T: John O'Shea & Tom Charlton

There was a lot to like about the return of Linebacker and the colt is sure to have taken plenty of improvement from it.

Taken back to last off the outside gate in the Run To The Rose, he was allowed to find his feet under Kerrin McEvoy and kept making steady ground along the rail, picking up nicely over the final part to claim fourth.

A winner at his first two outings, the son of Super Seth produced a superb effort to finish second in the Champagne Stakes in very heavy conditions before a well-earned break.

He looks to have come back in top order and will relish the rise to 1400m.

Kerrin McEvoy will again do the steering for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton and if he can find cover early, he’ll be strong late.

Race 9: (4:45pm) CANADIAN CLUB SHANNON STAKES GROUP 2 (15OOM)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win

No. 8 Bases Loaded

J: Tim Clark (55kg) T: G Waterhouse & A Bott

Bases Loaded was nailed right on the line when kicking off his campaign a fortnight ago in the Theo Marks and the Waterhouse / Bott trained entire will have taken good improvement from the run.

Runner up the Group One Champagne Stakes as a two-year-old, he has always shown plenty of raw ability and has continued to perform well against quality opposition.

He was sent to the paddock on a high after taking out the Gunsynd Stakes during the Brisbane Winter Carnival and will certainly be suited with the rise to 1500m here.

The wide alley is a slight concern but Tim Clark has a great affinity with the four-year-old and is sure to afford him every chance.

Race 10: (5:25pm) ROSEHILL BOWLING CLUB HANDICAP BM78 (1100M)

Race Starts in: Race Finished

Win Market Mover

No. 11 Pharari

J: Mark Zahra (56.5kg) T: Ciaron Maher

Pharari could not have been more impressive when kicking off her preparation over 1000m on the Sandown Hillside.

Taken straight to the front under the urgings of Mark Zahra, she always looked to have the race in her control and pulled away to score easily by over two lengths.

The well named daughter of American Pharoah has now recorded three wins and two second placings from just her six starts and looks to have plenty of upside.

She does rise in grade but drops 3kgs and has drawn to get all the favours from gate two.

A 5.5 length winner at her lone start in heavy conditions, a wet track will only enhance her chances and Zahra stays aboard.

Tips, recommendations and commentary are for entertainment only. All prices are Fixed win odds. We provide no warranty about accuracy or completeness. You should make your own assessment before placing a bet. Odds are correct as of 13/02/2025 01:08:29am AEST and subject to change.