Flemington Tips for Empire Rose Stakes 2023

The Melbourne Cup carnival kicks off in fine fashion with Derby Day serving up a feast of Group racing at Flemington.

The time honoured Empire Rose Stakes is the premier mile event for fillies and mares throughout the Spring carnival, and this year's edition is a cracker.

Cody Lane casts his eye over the Group 1 clash to reveal his top picks.

 

Track Conditions

For the latest on how the Flemington surface is expected to play, read Cody's preview of the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes here.

 

 

Flemington Race 8 – Empire Rose Stakes (1600m)

The Map

Deny Knowledge (7) will do what she does best and fire out the gates and run along at a fast tempo up front. She'll be joined by Pride Of Jenni (17) from the outside barrier.

Alcohol Free (5) will settle in behind the speed under the in-form Opie Bosson, while Wrote To Arataki (10) and Wishlor Lass (11) battle to take up positions off-pace.

Although the favourite Princess Grace (12) has settled on-pace in her last few runs, expect her to settle a couple of pairs back along with Life Lessons (15).

Fellow contenders Hope In Your Heart (1), Atishu (8) and Hinged (13) will all look to settle towards the rear.

 

The Favourite

Princess Grace has promised to make the next step and become a Group 1 star this preparation, but is yet to breakthrough for the elusive victory.

She comes into this off a quick one-month freshen-up, after going down as an odds-on favourite at this track over the 1400m.

She has been in stellar form this preparation despite not winning, with placings behind ‘Fangirl’ and ‘Mr Brightside’, as well as a 4^th in the Makybe Diva Stakes behind ‘Mr Brightside’ and ‘Alligator Blood’.

They are elite form-lines and she looks to get plenty of favours with a perfect run in the race just off the speed.

She gets her chance this time around and is a good price!

 

 

Empire Rose Tips

I'm going with Princess Grace to get the job done.

She has bumped into some of the country's best horses this preparation in ‘Mr Brightside’, ‘Alligator Blood’ and ‘Fangirl’.

While she was beaten in a weaker race last start as an odds-on favourite, expect her to get the deserved win here.

 

Chris Waller has an excellent hand in the race and Hinged is the biggest priced of the three but has a big winning chance.

She comes back to a more suitable distance in the 1600m here off the 4-week freshen-up and she should be at peak fitness fourth-up (4:1-1-0).

She'll appreciate the strong pace in the race and should come into it nicely with top jockey Blake Shinn on for the ride.

Big chance at odds!

 

 

Life Lessons is another I’m backing at big odds.

She beat the favourite ‘Princess Grace’ last start and she finished 2^nd to superstar ‘Amelia’s Jewel’ the start prior.

Like ‘Hinged’, she will also appreciate the strong pace in the race and will be at peak fitness fourth-up also.

Daniel Stackhouse stays on for the ride and he has an incredible record on this horse with 4 wins from 6 rides.

Well worthy of a small win, large place investment.

 

Renaissance Woman was a winner in a weaker race over the mile two starts back and while this is a step up in grade for her, she will be able to make a big run from the back off the strong pace.

 

1^st Princess Grace

2^nd Hinged

3^rd Life Lessons

4^th Renaissance Woman

 

There are loads of Flemington tips for Saturday's racing in our Horse Racing Tips market at thegreattipoff.com.