2022 Empire Rose Stakes top tips & preview | Saturday, October 22

What	2022 Empire Rose Stakes
Where	Flemington Racecourse – 448 Epsom Rd, Flemington, VIC 3031
When	Saturday, October 29, 2022
Prizemoney	$1,000,000
Distance	1600m
Status	Group 1
Conditions	Weight For Age \| Fillies & Mares
2021 Winner	Colette (8) \| T: James Cummings \| J: Damien Oliver (57kg)
Visit Ladbrokes

A capacity field of 16 fillies and mares are set to compete in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes in the penultimate event of VRC Derby Day at Flemington on Saturday afternoon. Within the field there are six individual Group 1 winners and plethora of runners who have been placed at the highest level in Group 1 races.

Last start Arrowfield Stud Plate victor across the ditch La Crique heads the market at $3.10 and rates highly with James McDonald on board. Last start Group 1 placegetters Hinged ($6.50) and She’s Licketysplit ($9.50) are the only other two at a single figure quote in what is an otherwise open race with online bookmakers outside of the favourite.

With natural pace setter Pride Of Jenni being a third emergency, the likes of Nimalee, La Crique and Mirra Vision are the likely speed influencers in the Empire Rose. With Icebath, Chaillot and Elusive Express all expected to be at the rear of the field upon settling.

Continue reading for HorseBetting’s preview and $100 betting strategy for the 2022 Empire Rose Stakes.

Visually, wins do not come as impressive as what La Crique put forward in the Arrowfield Stud Plate at Matamata on October 8 and a repeat of that performance on Saturday has her winning this by panels. This will be the four-year-old’s first start in Australia but considering the gap she put on the smart Imperatriz last time out and subsequent Livamol Classic winner Mustang Valley suggests she is a deserving favourite heading into the Empire Rose. She is proven on both rain-affected going and firmer decks so conditions will not hinder her chances and from barrier eight under the low-flying James McDonald, she will be given every chance of claiming Group 1 glory on Australian debut. She has won her sole third-up run in her career and as long as La Crique handles the occasion, then the Kiwi looks a clear on top selection.

From one Kiwi to another, the Andrew Forsman-trained She’s Licketysplit. The three-year-old filly was not beaten far in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas and had excuses with losing a plate in running. She is the lone filly in the race and with just 49kg on her back is almost certain to be fighting out the finish in a race like this with a such a significant weight advantage. From barrier six with the lightweight on her back, we expect Dean Holland to have her lobbed in the one-one throughout the 1600m and as she showed in the Edward Manifold Stakes two runs ago, she can see out a strongly run mile and can produce a strong turn of foot when asked to. The fact she is a $9.50 chance with online betting sites is ludicrous considering the amount of upside She’s Licketysplit has.

Outside of the two Kiwi’s the Empire Rose looks to be as open as ever. Palaisipan does need to improve too much from her efforts this campaign having been narrowly beaten in the Golden Pendant two starts back, before running in to Chain Of Lightning last time out. Whilst Belle Plasir was seemingly a good thing beaten in The Invitation on October 22 and on the quick back-up presents great value in the Empire Rose Stakes.