Its the $1m Kia Golden Rose Stakes, the first Group 1 of the Sydney Everest Carnival, and it’s the Longines Golden Slipper 1,2 of Shinzo and Cylinder who are duelling race favourites.
Aided by two recent barrier trials, the Golden Slipper hero Shinzo is returning first-up following his Golden Slipper victory in March, having a week earlier won the Pago Pago Stakes of 1200m.
In fact, Shinzo had only qualified for the Golden Slipper by winning the Pago Pago in the hands of James McDonald, having been placed previously in the Skyline Stakes and Canonbury Stakes.
With James McDonald committed to Godolphin and James Cummings for the Golden Slipper, and the top jockeys having their Slipper mounts, it was owners Coolmore who booked Ryan Moore.
As the internationally renowned Ryan Moore travelled from Ireland, he produced a masterly ride hugging ride on Shinzo to score a 1¼ length victory over Cylinder in 1-09.65sec for 1200m.
In a whirl-wind weekend Ryan Moore also deputised for an injured Tom Marqund in a one-off win in the Ranvet Stakes on Dubai Honour, who next took out the Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
With Ryan Moore now coming off a Irish Champion Stakes victory on his Epsom and Irish Derby winner Auguste Rodin, he has drawn Barrier 10 on Shinzo, while James Mc Donald has 6 on Cylinder.
However, its Cylinder who comes into this 21st Golden Rose of 1400m for 3yo’s at set-weights on the strength of winning the Run to The Rose of 1400, the traditional lead-up to the Golden Rose.
Previously winning the Vain Stakes of 1100m first-up following a 15 week spell when unplaced in the ATC Sires’ Produce, he had also won the Todman Stakes 1200m and Silver Slipper 1100m.
In being a moder day Australian racing success story, today the $1m Kia Golden Rose Stakes has developed into another 3yo ‘classic’ that has greatly advanced our breeding industry.
Successfully instigated by Mr Bill Picken, President of the former Sydney Turf Club, it was restructuring the then Peter Pan Stakes to carry $1 million prizemoney and race distance altered to 1400m.
Such has been the success of the Golden Rose, that Saturday sees the final leg of the Race Series with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trained Tiz Invincible having won leg-one The Rosebud.
With Tiz Invincible not accepting in having won the Tea Rose Stakes on Saturday, its Cylinder who won leg-two the Run to The Rose, but its Shinzo who has won leg-one of the $5m Gold Slam.
In winning the Longines Golden Slipper Stakes in March, the start of the Golden Slam, and if he can win the Kia Golden Rose Stakes, its then onto the $10m Golden Eagle 1500m on 4 November.
With Shinzo certainly to retire from racing to Coolmore Stud, he will be the third winner by four times champion sire Snitzel who already has In The Congo win in 2021 and Trapeze Artist in 2017.
Home-bred by Coolmore, and carrying Shinzo as the Snitzel in-foal, Tom Magnier, purchased the Blue Diamond and AJ Moir Stakes winner Samaready for $1.8m at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale.
With Cylinder being a Godolphin home-bred, and the possible second Golden Rose winner of his sire Exceed and Excel, he’s the family of Lonhro, from the Gr3 winning Street Cry mare Circular.
In also looking to stand at Darley Kelvinside, he’ll be with the Golden Rose 2021 second placed Anamoe who retired to stud this season and is looking at possible Horse of The Year honours.
Also standing at Darley Kelvinside for Godolphin is the 2019 Rose hero Bivouac, and Astern the 2016 winner, who both won the Run to The Rose, with Exosphere, 2015, now at Oaklands Stud.
Also formally Godolphin, both the 2014 winner Hollowed Crown and Denman, 2009, have continued their success at Twin Hills Stud, while Epaulette stands at the Jockey Club of Turkey Studs.
Peter Snowden has his Golden Slipper winner Forensics win the Rose in 2008, as the only filly to win the Rose, while John Hawkes won with Paratroopers in 2006 before winning the All-Aged Stakes.
