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It’s the spring three-year-old grand final, and can often be an important pointer to the TAB Everest, and the $1m XXXX Golden Rose (1400m) of 2021 at Rosehill promises to be a cracker.
Can Godolphin's Anamoe live up to his lofty reputation after a stunning first-up win? The past three Golden Rose winners in the Godolphin blue have, like Anamoe, taken out the Run To The Rose as their lead up – Bivouac (2019), Astern (2016) and Exosphere (2015) – so the stage is set for him.
At least two fillies are set to take on the boys with Jamaea and Queenslander Startantes out to create some history. A total of 41 fillies have contested the Golden Rose for just the one winner, Forensics in the 2008 autumn edition, and four second placings the latest being Champagne Cuddles in 2017.
Here's an early look at the main contenders for the 2021 edition:
Anamoe (James Cummings): He's the prince of the three-year-old colts awaiting his coronation as king and on the evidence of his first-up win in the Run To The Rose it will take a big performance from a rival to beat him. He gave away fitness and a decent head start in winning that race over 1200m at Kembla and given how dominant he was in the Sires' at 1400m in the autumn he's landed right in his comfort zone.
Artorius (Anthony & Sam Freedman): Has a win over Anamoe from the Blue Diamond earlier this year but the tables were turned in the Golden Slipper. He's a colt with a big finish on him when he gets the race run to suit. After his fast closing first-up second at Caulfield it was expected he would be too classy when he stepped out over 1400m at Flemington but he couldn't run Mr Mozart down. He carried penalties in those races so not to be underestimated back to set weights.
Captivant (Peter & Paul Snowden): A slashing first-up placing in the Rosebud suggested the Champagne Stakes winner has come back in good order this spring. It's probably not a surprise that the 1200m was a bit too sharp for him with the freshness gone in the Run To The Rose. Anamoe had his measure in the autumn in the Sires' so he has some work to do but this should be the best run of his preparation so far.
Coastwatch (Chris Waller): Promised quite a lot as a two-year-old but is now starting to live up to it. Backed up his narrow defeat to Tiger Of Malay in the Up & Coming first-up with a strong performance downing Military Expert in the Ming Dynasty. The latter race is generally seen as a second level lead up race so he will need to improve on that to win a Golden Rose, but he has been given a perfect build up.
Giannis (Chris Waller): Group 1 placed in Brisbane in the winter, he converted that effort into a first-up win in the Dulcify over 1500m at Kembla to post his first career win. That is a similar preparation used by Chris Waller with The Autumn Sun who won the JJ Atkins in Brisbane, resumed at 1500m (the Stan Fox in 2018) then won the Rose. Giannis is no The Autumn Sun but he's heading the right way and is worth each-way consideration.
Hilal (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes): Plenty was expected of this colt after chasing home Anamoe in the Sires' and Captivant in the Champagne but his two runs in Melbourne this spring have been well below that level. Held his ground okay first-up at 1200m around Moonee Valley then improved to finish not far behind Artorius at Flemington. He'd need to lift on those efforts.
In The Congo (Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott): Arguably the revelation of the three-year-old colts this spring, his front-running style will ensure he is very competitive. Held off Paulele in the San Domenico Stakes then he defied them all bar Anamoe in the Run To The Rose after giving a bold sight up front. Have to say he's proven himself up to being a factor and if he gets any control will take catching.
Jamaea (Robert & Luke Price): Impressive filly who was a brilliant winner of the Percy Sykes during the Championships and produced an amazing performance to round up the opposition in the Furious Stakes coming from last. She measured up to the boys in her first two starts, albeit not the top line colts, and with her strong finishing capability it'll be interesting to see how she fares given the general perception that the colts are superior in this crop.
Remarque (Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes): He's either looked brilliant or had excuses in his four starts to date and perhaps the barrier draw is going to be crucial to his chances. Should have finished closer in the Rosebud first-up when third behind Paulele and In The Congo but couldn't get past the latter in the Run To The Rose at Kembla after looming up. He's good enough to win if things go his way.
Startantes (Robert Heathcote): A leftfield late entry from the Heathcote yard, she's strung together three wins against the boys in Brisbane including one over Alpine Edge, who finished an unlucky fourth in the Caulfield Guineas Prelude last weekend. She tends to race off the pace, it's hard to really get a good line on her form but it's safe to say a win would be a small surprise.
Tiger Of Malay (Richard & Michael Freedman): Hard to knock his efforts in two runs back from a spell. Gave Coastwatch 8kg when winning the Up & Coming and conceded 1.5kg to Giannis in the Ming Dynasty last time out. So he has to be very competitive with that duo back at set weights. He's a bit of a tradesman and has a Group 2 win over Converge over 1400m to his name. If he draws well he could put himself in the finish somewhere.
