Journalists Wandering Eyes Posted November 1, 2023 Journalists Share Posted November 1, 2023 Atishu has opened as the market elect for the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington on Saturday. (Photo: Brett Holburt/Racing Photos) The Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes is traditionally one of the most competitive races on the Derby Day program at Flemington, and the 2023 edition is no different, with a full field of 16 mares expected to compete in the $1 million race. After finishing fifth in the same race last year, the Chris Waller-trained Atishu has opened as the market elect at +450 with online bookmakers. The daughter of Savabeel finished 13th of 14 in the Group 1 King Charles III Stakes on October 14, where she settled way too far back and didn’t run on, but her runner-up finish in the Group 2 Golden Pendant two starts back suggests she will be hard to beat on Saturday afternoon. Alcohol Free (+500) from the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott yard finished an impressive fourth in The Invitation last week, and the stable has chosen to back her up after seven days. The ex-European mare has yet to find the winner’s circle since arriving in Australia before the Sydney Autumn Carnival, but after two good performances this time in, the market believes she is close to a win. Wishlor Lass (+750) recorded her sixth win from eight starts last weekend at Moonee Valley, and Symon Wilde has chosen the 1600m Empire Rose over the 2000m Matriarch Stakes later in the Melbourne Cup Carnival. Although he has been aboard for her last two Group 3 victories, Damian Lane will not be riding in Melbourne on Saturday, so John Allen will have his first sit on the Mshawish mare. Princess Grace (+650) appeared destined for Group 1 glory this preparation after consecutive runner-up finishes in the Winx Stakes and Memsie Stakes. However, after she was defeated in the Group 2 Rose Of Kingston Stakes as an odds-on favourite, the jury is out on the daughter of Karakontie. It was hard not to be impressed with the win of Wrote To Arataki (+1800) in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes at Caulfield on October 21, and she is expected to be one of the key speed influences in this race. The Kerry Parker-trained Hope In Your Heart (+650) will have her first look around Flemington on Saturday in the Empire Rose, coming off an eighth-place finish in the King Charles III Stakes last start. Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman will have two runners engaged: Life Lessons (+1500), who is looking for back-to-back victories after she claimed the Rose Of Kingston last start; and Shuffle Dancer (+2500), who finished second in the Tristarc Stakes last time out. The 2023 Empire Rose Stakes will be race eight on the Flemington program and is scheduled to jump at 5pm AEDT on Saturday afternoon. Empire Rose Stakes 2023 Field No. Silks Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight 1 Alcohol Free Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Opie Bosson 5 57kg 2 Princess Grace Chris Waller TBC 12 57kg 3 Hope In Your Heart Kerry Parker Tim Clark 1 57kg 4 Atishu Chris Waller TBC 8 57kg 5 Hinged Chris Waller TBC 13 57kg 6 Foxy Frida Andrew Noblet Billy Egan 6 57kg 7 Renaissance Woman Bjorn Baker TBC 14 57kg 8 Barbie’s Fox Ben, Will & JD Hayes Mark Zahra 16 57kg 9 Wrote To Arataki Matthew Williams Dean Yendall 10 57kg 10 Pride Of Jenni Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Declan Bates 17 57kg 11 Deny Knowledge Michael Kent TBC 7 57kg 12 Life Lessons Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman Daniel Stackhouse 15 57kg 13 Shuffle Dancer Peter Moody & Katherine Coleman Luke Nolen 2 57kg 14 Wishlor Lass Symon Wilde John Allen 11 57kg 15 Ausbred Flirt Brad Widdup Rachel King 9 57kg 16 More Secrets Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Damien Oliver 4 57kg 17 Jennilala (1E) Ciaron Maher & David Eustace TBC 3 57kg More racing news View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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