The Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) has attracted a quality field of 14 fillies and mares at Flemington on Saturday in what is shaping up to be one of the most wide-open editions of the $1 million feature.
Favourites have an outstanding record in this race and it is no surprise to find last start Thousand Guineas winner Odeum as the shortest runner alongside Tasmanian miler, Mystic Journey.
With plenty to dive into, we’ve pulled apart the entire field in our 2020 Empire Rose Stakes Preview below.
Mystic Journey
Mystic Journey rates as one of the top chances in the field following her brilliant return to form last month in the Group 2 Stocks Stakes over the mile at The Valley.
The Tasmanian fell out of sorts with punters after a disappointing start to the Spring, but does look a major player resuming over the mile where she’s now won four times previously.
Trainer Adam Trinder will be hoping Mystic Journey can find the same form that saw her take out the All-Star Mile at Flemington last year and she looks a red-hot chance with Kerrin McEvoy on board from the soft draw.
Nettoyer
Nettoyer was a non-factor in last week’s Cox Plate (2040m) where she was outclassed by a strong lineup of international stayers.
The mare by Sebring tends to do some of her best racing on the short backup though, as we saw last year when she won the Group 3 Angst Stakes over the mile at Randwick coming out of the Epsom.
Nettoyer finished ninth in this race last year behind Melody Belle, but there is simply no denying this year’s Group 1 Doncaster Mile winner has to be respected over her preferred distance with two-time Empire Rose winner Glen Boss on board.
Madam Rouge
Madam Rouge produced a brilliant run along the rails to win the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes (1400m) by a nose last start at Caulfield and looks to be one of the value runners in the 2020 Empire Rose Stakes.
Winners of the Tristarc have gone on to win the Empire Rose on three previous occasions, and the she hit the line a fortnight ago suggests she’s ready for her first look at the mile.
Pretty Brazen
Pretty Brazen won the Group 2 Sandown Guineas over the mile this time last year and has been thereabouts in each of her last three runs.
The daughter of Brazen Beau typically runs well at Flemington, as we saw last month when she took out the Group 2 Let’s Elope Stakes (1400m) ahead of Arcadia Queen on the way to a brave third behind Behemoth in the Group 1 Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes.
She struggled for luck down the straight in the Kingston Town Stakes and also had excuses last start in the Tristarc.
The McEvoy four-year-old is rock hard fit heading into her finale though and is definitely capable of grabbing a place with even luck.
Vanna Girl
Vanna Girl strips fitter for her last start third in the Group 3 Craven Plate in what was an encouraging bounce-back after jarring up to run 14th in the Epsom Handicap.
The Queenslander has won four starts across Doomben, the Sunshine Coast and Eagle Farm over the mile and should be doing her best work late along the rails under Hugh Bowman for the first time.
Shout The Bar
Shout The Bar won the Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill back in March but has struggled to find that same form since returning to the races.
The daughter of Not A Single Doubt finished dead last first-up in the Group 2 Sheraco, sixth in the Golden Pendant and 11 of 14 in the Angst Stakes over the mile last start at Randwick.
Damien Oliver should settle somewhere just off the pace, but based on recent efforts, the pair are tough to have from the wide draw.
Asiago
Asiago is yet to show her true class at Group 1 level running sixth in the Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill earlier in March before a disappointing ninth in the Schweppes Oaks at Morphettville in May.
The Godolphin mare hasn’t looked much better in a pair of recent Group 3 runs at Newcastle and Randwick and won’t find this any easier.
Missile Mantra
Missile Mantra has mixed her form since returning from a spell running dead last first-up in the Group 3 Cockram Stakes (1200m) before showing improvement two runs back when third in the Kingston Town Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.
The mare by Smart Missile turned in an eye-catching effort for fourth stepping out to the mile last start in the Ladies Day Vase at Caulfield and has run no worse in three starts over this distance.
Felicia
Felicia hasn’t put a foot wrong this prep finding the money in all four of her runs since returning to the races.
She went forward last start in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield and showed plenty of fight holding on for third behind a swooping She Shao Fly and Madam Rouge.
The daughter of Encumbered is clearly crying out for the mile now and should give the others plenty to chase.
She Shao Fly
She Shao Fly has found the money in four of her last five runs and is as honest and consistent as they come.
Trainer Kevin Corstens has done a great job keeping this horse fit and firing since May, which in turn has seen her run second in both the Group 2 Kingston Town Stakes and the Tristarc heading into her Group 1 debut on Saturday.
The red-hot Jamie Kah has built a real rapport with this horse over the last month, and with some potential rain about, the pair are worth including in your numbers.
Chaillot
Archie Alexander’s lightly-raced mare reeled off a hat-trick of wins to start her career before running third in the Group 3 Ladies Day Vase over the mile a fortnight ago.
The mare by Testa Rossa ran the fifth-fastest final 200m of the meeting that day at Caulfield and is well worth a look in exotics based on that performance.
Odeum
Odeum looked set for a spell after her upset win in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas, but will now lineup in the $1 million Empire Rose Stakes shooting for a hat-trick of wins.
The daughter of Written Tycoon has drawn to get a lovely run from barrier 7 where she can tuck in just off the speed, although losing Michael Walker may hurt her chances ever so slightly.
She is a previous winner over the mile and with just 49kg on her back, she should take a power of beating.
Chica Fuerte
Anthony Freedman won the Empire Rose three years ago with Shoals and he appears to have another live hope in the form of three-year-old filly Chica Fuerte.
The daughter of Hinchinbrook is yet to run a bad race during her career and is coming off a very impressive two length win in the Group 3 Ethereal Stakes over further at Caulfield.
She was far from disgraced in her first look at Flemington two runs back when third to Thermosphere in the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes and looks well-suited stepping back to the mile now.
Forbidden Love
Forbidden Love won the Listed Reginald Allen Quality two weeks ago at Randwick and has found the money in six of her seven runs to date.
This is her first look at the mile and also Flemington and looks tough to have outside of a place.
Empire Rose Stakes Tip
1 Mystic Journey at $4.50
