Trainer James Cummings looks a huge hope of securing his third Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) victory on Saturday saddling-up the two favourites for the Godolphin stable.
The James Cummings-trained In Secret is favourite to win the Golden Rose Stakes 2022 this weekend at Rosehill Gardens. Photo: Steve Hart.
Run To The Rose winning filly In Secret and star colt Golden Mile headline the markets on this year’s Golden Rose at Ladbrokes.com.au.
The team’s daughter of I Am Invincible, In Secret, is out to become the first Golden Rose winning filly since Forensics for Peter Snowden back in March of 2008 and just the second in the race’s history.
She is being kept safe in the markets at a current quote of $3.10 following a favourable barrier three draw in the near capacity 17-starter field for her and jockey James McDonald.
Cummings won the Golden Rose back in 2019 with Bivouac, and he also co-trained the 2014 champion Hallowed Crown in partnership with his late grandfather Bart.
Bivouac was also the last horse to complete the Run To The Rose – Golden Rose double In Secret chases this season.
McDonald meanwhile is out to become a three-time Golden Rose winning hoop following his back-to-back victories aboard Exopshere (2015) and Astern (2016) for John O’Shea.
A son of the 2016 Rose winner Astern is the other key chance donning the Royal Blue silks with Golden Mile occupying the second line of betting at $4.80.
The Caulfield Guineas-bound youngster is drawn barrier 11 with Sam Clipperton continuing associations.
Runner-up fresh in the Group 3 Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) here two back, Golden Mile showed huge improvement last time out running away for a three-length win in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty Quality (1400m) on September 10.
Clipperton remains confident his mount can upset the better fancied stablemate and is full of praise for the powerful young gun.
“Golden Mile is a beautiful horse with so much power,” he told Racenet.
“He’s a big boy, very strong and with real presence about him but for the size that he is, he’s so sure-footed, so balanced, and covers the ground with ease.
“I know everyone is talking about In Secret, and Golden Mile will have to improve again, but he has that X-factor about him to be honest.”
Another last start winner in the mix is the $8.50 third elect Jacquinot for Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr.
Damian Lane partners the progressive Rubick colt from a lovely gate five draw in Saturday’s feature with the horse out to further frank the form out of Caulfield.
The ace Victorian visitor won the Group H.D.F. McNeil Stakes (1200m) first-up on August 27, and that form held with the runner-up Aft Cabin flying home for an easy Group 3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude victory over the weekend.
Along with In Secret there are a further three fillies out to beat the boys in this year’s Golden Rose field.
The other best fancied of those is the Anthony Cummings-trained She’s Extreme in barrier six with two-time winning hoop Tommy Berry aboard.
The Group 1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) winning daughter Extreme Choice was eye-catching fresh when third in the Group 2 Furious Stakes (1200m) with improvement to come.
The other fillies in the mix are the Gary Portelli-trained Golden Slipper – Inglis Sires’ double winner Fireburn drawn wide in barrier 16 and the Peter & Paul Snowden-trained Paris Dior in gate 14.
Portelli is also represented in the field by his $1 million Golden Gift winning Sebring colt Sejardan who is out to improve on a lead-up seventh in the Run To The Rose.
Gold Coast trainer Kacy Fogden is still to confirm a rider for Golden Slipper runner-up Best Of Bordeaux with a decision on the Hugh Bowman suspension from last weekend pending.
