Rosehill Gardens hosts one of the best days of racing during the Sydney Spring Carnival on Saturday – 2023 Golden Rose Day!
There are ten winners to be found in total, and you can find all of my 2023 Golden Rose Day Tips below.
Highway Handicap (1500m) – 11:50am
Take The Kitty only just missed in a similar Highway race here at Rosehill last time out, and this looks a great opportunity for him to go one better.
The Star Witness gelding has been a model of consistency throughout his campaign, winning a couple of times at his home track of Murwillumbah, while proving that he is up to some of the best country gallopers around, at his latest appearance.
He’s hard fit and might not be offered a better opportunity to win in town.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Take The Kitty
Midway Handicap (1300m) – 12:25pm
Peace Officer returned a winner in the Da Vinci at Wyong at the beginning of the month, and I am confident that he can make it two in a row on Golden Rose Day.
The Iffraaj gelding didn’t miss placing last time in, finishing from around some quality gallopers in the process, but his fresh performance this time suggested that he has furnished into a bigger and better horse.
I like that he has been kept up to the mark with a trial since his first-up run, while something of this quality does appear to be well within his means.
Suggested Bet: No. 7 Peace Officer
Irresistible Pools & Spas Handicap (1900m) – 1pm
I thought that this looked a great race for Logan Street Lion.
He has been a great horse for the Waller yard for a few seasons now, and Logan Street Lion has continued to improve with each start back from a spell.
He looked the winner in BM94 company at Randwick at his latest appearance before ultimately finishing third, but I am confident that race will have topped him off nicely, and getting out to 1900m this week could very well prove the difference.
Suggested Bet: No. 3 Logan Street Lion
Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m) – 1:35pm
Could this finally be the first time that we see Barber as a three-year-old?
He has accepted and scratched no fewer than three times this season and I’m starting to wonder if he’ll ever actually race again…
With all seriousness, there is a case to be made for a few of them, and I am actually going to have a small each way play on one at huge odds, Namesake ($27 at publish).
Namesake hasn’t been seen at the races since June, but he was excellent during his two-year-old season, winning twice, including the Listed Oxlade Stakes up in Brisbane and finding form around some quality gallopers.
Finishing second behind Think About It in a recent trial adds further confidence, as does the booking of Magic Man Joao Moreira.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Namesake
Group 3 Colin Stephen Quality (2400m) – 2:10pm
Desert Icon is another galloper that has continued to improve with each run back from a spell, and get looks to get really suitable conditions in Saturday’s Colin Stephen Quality.
The veteran son of Sea The Stars finish sixth in each of his first two starts back from a spell, both featured staying races, and he looked just a run short when fourth in the Newcastle Gold Cup last week.
I like that he is on a short back-up, why the addition of Ryan Moore this week makes an enormous difference in my opinion.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Desert Icon
Group 2 Golden Pendant (1400m) – 2:45pm
I thought Espiona was outstanding in her first run back from a break and the Golden Pendant is a perfect race for her.
Espiona has been a great horse throughout her career, and she realised her Group 1 potential with an outstanding win in the Coolmore Classic back in March of this year.
She hit the line to finish second behind a very smart Sunshine In Paris in the Sheraco Stakes a fortnight ago and with added improvement this week, she is my best bet on the program.
Suggested Bet: No. 2 Espiona
Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) – 3:20pm
I love the Shannon Stakes – it’s always a great, open contest full of winning chances, and that almost always translates into value in Shannon Stakes betting.
I liked the look of Williamsburg over 1400m up in Brisbane at his first run back from a break and he is a horse that tends to enjoy noticeable improvement with a run under his belt.
He wasn’t out of his depth in Group 1 company several times during his two and three-year-old seasons, and he has been charged with carrying only 53kgs this week.
With even luck in running, I think he’ll be right in the finish again and we can have an each way play at current Shannon Stakes odds ($9 at publish).
Suggested Bet: No. 10 Williamsburg
Group 1 Golden Rose (1400m) – 4pm
There is absolutely no denying that the Golden Rose is always one of the absolute standout races of the Sydney Spring Carnival.
It shapes as a typically terrific contest this year, but I have put King Colorado on top.
Check out my full race preview and complete 2023 Golden Rose Tips RIGHT HERE.
Suggested Bet: No. 4 King Colorado
Chandon Handicap (1400m) – 4:40pm
One of the more open races on the program in my opinion with several winning chances engaged, including Toesonthenose.
Toesonthenose has fast become a reliable horse during his recent preparations, and he won three races in succession during his autumn prep.
I thought that he laid a good account for himself in a race that was well short of his best distance first-up from a spell, and getting out to 1400m this week is far more suitable.
Suggested Bet: No. 12 Toesonthenose
We’re On Handicap (1100m) – 5:15pm
I simply cannot wait to see Mogo Magic back in action in the last at Rosehill on Saturday, and of course, I’m going to be with him until he gives me a reason not to be!
The Duporth gelding recorded a dominant win on debut at the Sapphire Coast back in November and he has continued to improve with each start as the bar has been raised, culminating in another victory in BM72 company at Randwick at his latest in July.
He remains undefeated, and he clearly goes well fresh.
Suggested Bet: No. 1 Mogo Magic
