A star-studded line-up of fillies and mares will clash over the famous Flemington mile this Saturday when the Empire Rose Stakes runs on Victoria Derby Day, and the Neds form team has you covered with our expert Empire Rose Stakes 2026 betting tips, predictions and favourites for one of the premier Group 1 contests of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
The latest Empire Rose Stakes betting markets at Neds are spearheaded by proven Group 1 performer Lady Shenandoah, who looks perfectly placed to add another elite-level trophy to her résumé after her tough Toorak Handicap victory. Right on her heels in the market is unbeaten mile specialist Surfin’ Bird, whose dominant spring campaign has seen punters flock to the Waterhouse-Bott mare, while consistent performer Concord Connie continues to attract attention as she attempts to make the leap from emerging talent to Group 1 winner.
Away from the market leaders, there is no shortage of intrigue with several in-form mares bringing strong lead-up credentials, including Flemington specialists, proven stakes performers, and a handful of value runners capable of causing a boilover. With form lines converging from the Toorak Handicap, Crystal Mile, Stocks Stakes and Tristarc Stakes, this year’s edition shapes as one of the deepest and most competitive Empire Rose Stakes fields in recent seasons.
Below you’ll find our full Empire Rose Stakes 2026 preview, betting tips and same race multi selections.
2026 Empire Rose Stakes Favourites & Best Bets
LADY SHENANDOAH (8) gets the nod as the mare to beat in this year’s Empire Rose and looks primed to capitalise on the absence of dual race winner Pride Of Jenni.
Chris Waller’s star mare returned to peak form with a tough Group 1 Toorak Handicap victory under 58kg, showcasing the class that has made her one of the best milers in the country.
Back against her own sex at weight-for-age, she gets a much more suitable setup on Saturday and should enjoy every favour from barrier eight.
With James McDonald retaining the ride and her recent form measuring up exceptionally well against this field, Lady Shenandoah will be hard to run down.
| 1. Lady Shenandoah (8) 57kg2×441 | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start favourite; ran on from midfield and won by a head in the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m defeating Changing Colours with 58kg at $5.50. The run before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 16 in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on September 19 over 1400m, 1.3 len behind Angel Capital with 56kg at $4.80. Classy mare who is very well suited back to set weights here, rates clear. | |||
SURFIN’ BIRD (9) shapes as the biggest threat to the favourite and looks ideally placed to continue her rise through the ranks.
The Waterhouse/Bott-trained mare arrives chasing a winning hat-trick after impressive victories in the Ladies’ Day Vase and Crystal Mile, the latter seeing her defeat an open field over this same Flemington mile.
Unbeaten in all five previous starts at 1600m, the daughter of The Autumn Sun has developed into one of the country’s most reliable mile performers, and her natural on-speed pattern is a major asset in a race lacking genuine pressure.
Drawn to roll forward under Blake Shinn, she should land in her preferred position and take plenty of catching.
If she reproduces the form she’s shown this campaign, she looks a genuine winning chance and a must-have among the top selections.
| 3. Surfin’ Bird (9) 57kg1×411 | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Most recently favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.5 len in the G2 Crystal Mile at this track on October 24 over 1600m defeating Buckaroo with 56kg at $3. The start before that favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 2 len in the G3 Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m defeating Savitri with 57kg at $4.20. Progressive and unbeaten this trip, she’ll give a big sight. | |||
SASS APPEAL (5) is the knockout chance in this year’s Empire Rose Stakes for mine and looks well overs for a mare with her profile.
Danny O’Brien’s four-year-old has been a model of consistency throughout her short career, winning five of nine starts and rarely running a bad race.
Her last-start second in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes behind Changing Colours reads as a strong form reference for this, and the freshen-up since that run looks ideal.
The real key, though, is her outstanding Flemington record, having won four of five starts at headquarters, while Damian Lane remains a major asset aboard.
Drawn to settle in a prominent position and produce her customary late kick, Sass Appeal represents excellent value and can run a lot better than her double-figure quote suggests.
| 9. Sass Appeal (5) 56.5kgx1442 | |||
| Form hard to fault. Comes here off a 34-day let-up. Last start set the pace for much of the race 2nd of 9 in the G2 Stocks Stakes at Caulfield on September 27 over 1600m, 1.0 len behind Changing Colours with 58kg at $2.15. The race before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 13 in the LR Tontonan (Sofitel) Stakes at this track on September 12 over 1400m, 1.2 len behind Welcometotheshow with 54kg at $3.20. Not far away last start. Going okay, could stick on for a placing. | |||
2026 Empire Rose Stakes Same Race Multi Selections
- Top 2 – No. 1 Lady Shenandoah
- Top 3 – No. 3 Surfin’ Bird
- Top 4 – No. 9 Sass Appeal
LADY SHENANDOAH (8) for a Top 2 finish looks the cornerstone of the multi after her classy Toorak Handicap victory, with the proven Group 1 mare ideally suited back to weight-for-age conditions over her favourite distance.
SURFIN’ BIRD (9) for a Top 3 finish brings red-hot form and a flawless mile record into the race, with the in-form mare likely to take catching if she finds the front and controls proceedings.
SASS APPEAL (5) for a Top 4 run is the value addition, with the Flemington specialist perfectly capable of outperforming her price after a strong Stocks Stakes lead-up and a freshen-up for this target.
| 1. Lady Shenandoah (8) 57kg2×441 | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start favourite; ran on from midfield and won by a head in the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m defeating Changing Colours with 58kg at $5.50. The run before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 16 in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on September 19 over 1400m, 1.3 len behind Angel Capital with 56kg at $4.80. Classy mare who is very well suited back to set weights here, rates clear. | |||
| 3. Surfin’ Bird (9) 57kg1×411 | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Most recently favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.5 len in the G2 Crystal Mile at this track on October 24 over 1600m defeating Buckaroo with 56kg at $3. The start before that favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 2 len in the G3 Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m defeating Savitri with 57kg at $4.20. Progressive and unbeaten this trip, she’ll give a big sight. | |||
| 9. Sass Appeal (5) 56.5kgx1442 | |||
| Form hard to fault. Comes here off a 34-day let-up. Last start set the pace for much of the race 2nd of 9 in the G2 Stocks Stakes at Caulfield on September 27 over 1600m, 1.0 len behind Changing Colours with 58kg at $2.15. The race before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 13 in the LR Tontonan (Sofitel) Stakes at this track on September 12 over 1400m, 1.2 len behind Welcometotheshow with 54kg at $3.20. Not far away last start. Going okay, could stick on for a placing. | |||
Empire Rose Stakes 2026 Odds
| 1. Lady Shenandoah (8) 57kg2×441 | |||
| Racing well recently. Last start favourite; ran on from midfield and won by a head in the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m defeating Changing Colours with 58kg at $5.50. The run before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 16 in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield on September 19 over 1400m, 1.3 len behind Angel Capital with 56kg at $4.80. Classy mare who is very well suited back to set weights here, rates clear. | |||
| 2. Idle Flyer (7) 57kg64405 | |||
| Last start 5th of 12 in a G2 The Invitation at Randwick on October 24 over 1400m, 3 len behind Lazzura carrying 59kg at $8.50. The race before that 14th of 16 in the G1 Epsom Handicap at Randwick on October 3 over 1600m, on a slow track; 6 len behind God’s Window carrying 55kg at $18. Better last week and is a G1 winner over a mile. | |||
| 3. Surfin’ Bird (9) 57kg1×411 | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. Most recently favourite; tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 0.5 len in the G2 Crystal Mile at this track on October 24 over 1600m defeating Buckaroo with 56kg at $3. The start before that favourite; raced right near the speed and boxed on; won by 2 len in the G3 Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m defeating Savitri with 57kg at $4.20. Progressive and unbeaten this trip, she’ll give a big sight. | |||
| 4. Cilacap (4) 57kg831×5 | |||
| Second-up. First-up after five months 5th of 11 in the G2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes at this track on October 3 over 1400m, on rain affected going; 2.25 len behind Stylish carrying 57.5kg at $19. Previously second-up 6th of 9 in the G2 Millie Fox Stakes at Rosehill on February 21 over 1300m, 3 len behind Cinsault with 56kg at $11. Doubt she’s got the class to win. | |||
| 5. Unleeshing (10) 57kgx2211 | |||
| Chasing a hat-trick. At the latest run settled well back; won by 0.7 len in the G3 Angst Stakes at Randwick on October 17 over 1600m in soft going defeating Pillow Fight carrying 54kg at $3.30. Before that ran on from midfield and won by 0.5 len in a Bm94 at Randwick on October 3 over 1600m on a rain affected track defeating Polymnia carrying 52kg at $1.80. Lots of upside and splits last start say she can measure up. | |||
| 6. Pondalowie (11) 57kgx8156 | |||
| At the latest run 6th of 11 in the G2 Crystal Mile at this track on October 24 over 1600m, 4 len behind Surfin’ Bird carrying 56.5kg at $17. The run before that 5th of 15 in the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m, 1.75 len behind Lady Shenandoah with 52kg at $41. Not going badly but has a few lengths to find. | |||
| 7. Jenni Multabella (2) 57kg31222 | |||
| Returns from a 42-day let-up. Last start crossed from a wide gate to lead but couldn’t hold on when 2nd of 13 in a Bm74 at Caulfield on September 19 over 1800m, 0.5 len behind Emperor Tzu carrying 56kg at $6. The race before that 2nd of 14 in a Bm78 at Caulfield on August 29 over 1800m, slow going 1.0 len behind Politely Dun with 53.5kg at $3.40. Outclassed. | |||
| 8. Salty Pearl (1) 56.5kg5×346 | |||
| Last start raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 6th of 15 in the G1 Toorak Handicap at Caulfield on October 10 over 1600m, 2.25 len behind Lady Shenandoah with 52kg at $10. The start before that 4th of 12 in the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes at this track on September 12 over 1400m, 0.7 len behind Pondalowie with 57.5kg at $7.50. Racing well but not suited at weights. | |||
| 9. Sass Appeal (5) 56.5kgx1442 | |||
| Form hard to fault. Comes here off a 34-day let-up. Last start set the pace for much of the race 2nd of 9 in the G2 Stocks Stakes at Caulfield on September 27 over 1600m, 1.0 len behind Changing Colours with 58kg at $2.15. The race before that raced on the speed and boxed on steadily 4th of 13 in the LR Tontonan (Sofitel) Stakes at this track on September 12 over 1400m, 1.2 len behind Welcometotheshow with 54kg at $3.20. Not far away last start. Going okay, could stick on for a placing. | |||
| 10. Concord Connie (6) 56.5kg11×23 | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up in the past. Resuming came from midfield; 2nd of 7 in a Mares Bm78 at Mornington on September 26 over 1200m, on a slow track; nose behind Per Sempre carrying 59kg at $1.30. Second-up 3rd of 11 in the G2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield on October 17 over 1400m, 2.75 len behind Shadhavar carrying 55kg at $2.70. Things against in both runs and can improve albeit this is a fair bit harder. | |||
| 11. Pillow Fight (3) 56.5kg2×652 | |||
| Most recently rolled along in front then was edged out late 2nd of 10 in the G3 Angst Stakes at Randwick on October 17 over 1600m, on a slow track; 0.7 len behind Unleeshing carrying 54kg at $14. The race before that did the work up front then tired 5th of 10 in a Bm88 at Rosehill on September 26 over 1400m, 2.5 len behind Decorum with 53kg at $17. Can’t see her featuring. | |||