The Golden Rose Stakes is a Group 1 feature race for three-year-olds run at set weights. Colts and geldings carry 56.5kg in the race and fillies carry 54.5kg. It is held over 1400m at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in September each year.
A new concept has been created in 2019 called the ‘Golden Slam’. A $5 million bonus will be offered to any horse that completes the treble – they must win the Golden Slipper at two, Golden Rose at three and the Golden Eagle at four.
Compared to most Group 1 features in Australia, the Golden Rose is fairly new with the inaugural running held in 1978 when captured by Kapalaran. One year later and the great Kingston Town was victorious.
The race hasn’t always been known as the Golden Rose Stakes; from 1978 until 2002, the race was called the Peter Pan Stakes, in honour of dual Melbourne Cup winner Peter Pan who captured the Melbourne Cup in 1932 and 1934.
Since 2003, the race has been called the Golden Rose and it was upgraded to a Group 1 event in 2009. Prize money has remained at $1 million since 2003 when won by In Top Swing. One year earlier, the 2002 Peter Pan Stakes won by Sportsman was worth $140,000.
There have been several distance changes during the history of the Golden Rose. The race has been conducted over 1350m, the current 1400m, 1500m and 1550m.
Kingston Town is the most prolific winner of the Golden Rose which he won in 1979. The champion thoroughbred won 30 races from 41 starts, including three-consecutive Cox Plates between 1980-82. Other Group 1 victories for the Australian Racing Hall of Fame horse are the Spring Champion Stakes, Rosehill Guineas, Australian Derby, Tancred Stakes, Sydney Cup, Queensland Derby, two George Main Stakes, two Caulfield Stakes and the Kingston Town Classic (known back then as the Western Mail Classic before being called the Kingston Town Stakes from 2007 onwards).
The Autumn Sun had a brief racing career of nine starts for eight wins. Trained by Chris Waller, The Autumn Sun won the JJ Atkins, Caulfield Guineas, Randwick Guineas, Rosehill Guineas and of course, the 2018 Golden Rose.
A stallion-making race is the perfect description for the Golden Rose with many winners being retired to stud later in the season. Recent winners of the Golden Rose to stand at stud are Trapeze Artist (2017), Astern (2016), Exosphere (2015), Hallowed Crown (2014) and Zoustar (2013).
