Rosehill Gardens takes centre stage in Australia on Saturday for one of the Sydney Spring Carnival’s most highly coveted prizes!
The Golden Rose has been a key stallion-making race since its inception and boasts a recent honour roll including names like Beiwacht, Broadsiding, Bivouac and The Autumn Sun.
A typically strong field of three-year-olds will chase the next position on that list, including three Group 1 winners and a host of other prospects that have been knocking on the door at the highest level.
Scroll down for our Rosehill tip sheet, including 2026 Golden Rose best bets.
Better Late has undoubtedly returned to racing a better horse this time in, winning over 1200m at Newcastle second up from a spell before only just missing behind Formal in a similar race here a fortnight ago. In peak order this week and under Jame McDonald, he’s a top chance of going one better.
| 7. Better Late (8) J: James McDonald 57kg 6×212 T: Nathan Doyle | |||
| Form hard to fault. At the latest run set the pace for much of the race 2nd of 12 in a Midway Bm72 at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 0.7 len behind Formal with 56kg at $4. The start before that won by 2.5 len in a Prov Bm68 at Beaumont (Newcastle) on August 25 over 1200m in soft going defeating Grinzinger Pod carrying 57kg at $3.90. In career best form and expected to feature strongly. | |||
Bluish Hue returned to action to only just missing over 1000m at Ballina last month and has since also finished the runner up in stronger events at Doomben and Ipswich respectively. I love the decision to head back down south and into a Highway race in search of Saturday metro success, and the booking of Nash Rawiller further enhances his winning claims this week.
| 5. Bluish Hue (10) J: Nash Rawiller 57kg 4×222 T: Matthew Dunn | |||
| Racing well recently. Most recently 2nd of 8 in a 0 – 65 at Ipswich on September 9 over 1350m, nose behind Lebanese with 55.5kg at $2.50. Before that settled towards the rear 2nd of 11 in a Cl3 at Doomben on August 26 over 1200m, 2.5 len behind Amuseantes carrying 54.5kg at $21. Sure to be right there at the business end. | |||
Bella Montagna turned in several fine performances last time in, and after returning to action to finish less than a length behind the winner in the Listed Wyong Gold Cup, she worked home well again behind an outstanding Aethelwulf in the Newcastle Cup last week. There’s clearly no horse of that quality engaged in this contest, and on from the good draw and on the quick back up, she looks one of the better bets on the program in my opinion.
| 2. Bella Montagna (4) J: Tim Clark 53kg 25×43 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. Resuming 4th of 7 in the LR Wyong Gold Cup on September 4 over 2100m, 0.9 len behind Matusalem with 54kg at $4.40. Last start 3rd of 7 in the G3 Newcastle Cup on September 18 over 2300m, 2.75 len behind Aethelwulf with 54kg at $10. Capable of a better showing. Blinkers go on and looks hard to hold out on the limit. | |||
We haven’t seen Bear On The Loose at the races since May, and while he doesn’t win out of turn, he has been a consistent performer in races not dissimilar since arriving in Australia. Having trialled up well, he’s yet to miss placing in five previous fresh attempts, and if he can find his way forward in the run, I think he’ll be tough to run down again.
| 2. Bear On The Loose (12) J: Adam Hyeronimus 61.5kg 2445x T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Resuming. Finished off last preparation fifth of 14 at Wagga in the LR Wagga Cup May 1 over 2000m, 3 len behind Bianco Vilano with 54kg at $5. First up last campaign third of 15 at Randwick Gardenia February 7 over 1600m, 2.25 len behind Sun God carrying 54kg at $6. Will improve on whatever he does in this. | |||
Cross Tasman has been excellent since making his debut, winning four of ten starts, finishing the runner up as many times and finding form around some above-average talent in the process. He couldn’t have done a lot more without winning the Goulburn Cup when resuming last month, and I like that he’s been kept up to the mark with a trial since that race. Unbeaten at this point of his preparation, he’s my best bet on the program.
| 3. Cross Tasman (7) J: Zac Lloyd 59kg 122×2 T: John O’shea & Tom Charlton | |||
| Second-up. First-up after seven months 2nd of 16 in a Goul Cup Mbm98 at Goulburn on August 23 over 1400m, 0.6 len behind Just Party carrying 54kg at $2.80. Previously second-up favourite; came from midfield and won by 2.5 len in a Cg&E Bm72 at Randwick on December 26 over 1300m defeating Off The Press carrying 58.5kg at $3.90. Sound return and undefeated second up, go close. | |||
Blue Door stamped himself as a colt to follow by winning the Kindergarten Stakes on debut during The Championships this year before immediately being put away. While yet to strike in two runs back this season, he’s finished the runner up in both the Rosebud and the San Domenico, finishing just over a length behind Golden Rose favourite Guest House in the latter. He should get his chance again this week and I can’t find a reason why he won’t be in the finish.
| 1. Blue Door (6) J: Nash Rawiller 56.5kg 1×22 T: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Third-up today. First-up gave a sight but was run down late 2nd of 13 in a LR The Rosebud at this track on August 15 over 1100m, on a slow track; 1.0 len behind Chilly Girl with 56.5kg at $3.60. Second run from a spell led but faded 2nd of 8 in the G3 San Domenico Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1100m, 1.3 len behind Guest House carrying 55kg at $1.95. Ideally placed to get the better of these in a weaker race. | |||
She’s always been an above-average performer, but Lazzura undoubtedly went to another level in the autumn, winning the Coolmore Classic before ending her campaign second behind Beiwacht in the All Aged Stakes, beaten less than a length. Having brushed off the cobwebs with a fine performance to finish just over half a length behind a fitter Savvy Hallie in the Sheraco Stakes over 1200m here a fortnight ago, she strips fitter and gets out to a better trip, and she retains the services of James McDonald.
| 1. Lazzura (5) J: James McDonald 58kg 212×3 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after five months sat on speed throughout when 3rd of 8 in the G2 Sheraco Stakes at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 0.6 len behind Savvy Hallie with 58kg at $2.90. Previously second-up favourite; won by a neck in the G1 Coolmore Classic at this track on March 14 over 1500m defeating Arctic Glamour with 58kg at $5. | |||
Golden Slipper winner Guest House has opened favourite in 2026 Golden Rose betting and does look a key winning chance again. He was outstanding during his two-year-old prep, while his first run back from a break suggested he might have only improved, and saw him storming home to easily win the San Domenico Stakes. Out to 1400m for the first time is the only question mark, but with natural improvement, it doesn’t look as though it will be a problem. A Group 1 winner in his own right having taken out the JJ Atkins over 1400m in June, Tron Bolt settled at the tail of the field in the Run To The Rose before letting down well late. Stripping fitter, he gets out to an ideal trip in the Golden Rose 2026, and the booking of Damian Lane certainly doesn’t hinder his chances.
| 1. Guest House (5) J: Zac Lloyd 56.5kg 231×1 T: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr | |||
| Second-up. First-up after five months tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 1.3 len in the G3 San Domenico Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1100m defeating Blue Door carrying 58.5kg at $7. Previously second-up 2nd of 8 in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts & Geldings) at Caulfield on February 7 over 1100m, 1.0 len behind Closer To Free with 57kg at $2.20. | |||
| 3. Tron Bolt (11) J: Damian Lane 56.5kg 111×7 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months eased back early on 7th of 11 in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 4 len behind Warwoven carrying 58.5kg at $21. Previously second-up ran on from midfield and won by 3 len in a 2yo Hcp at Randwick Kensington on May 13 over 1400m defeating Rolling Home carrying 56.5kg at $2.70. | |||
Unlucky not to gain a start in the Stradbroke when finding form at the tail-end of his latest campaign, Skyhook attracted big interest ahead of the Theo Marks here first up and didn’t disappoint, kicking away to record an eye-catching win. Second up and further out in trip, this is the next logical step for him to take before an Epsom.
| 2. Skyhook (2) J: Kerrin Mcevoy 58kg 121×1 T: Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months favourite; won by 1.2 len in a G2 Theo Marks Stakes at this track on September 12 over 1300m defeating Magnatear with 56kg at $2. Previously second-up 6th of 9 in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick on April 11 over 1200m, 3 len behind Tempted with 56.5kg at $14. Can continue his winning ways. | |||
Having only just been denied in BM70 on the Ballarat Synthetic when resuming, Charming Nic stripped fitter into a popular and dominant second up victory at the same track last time out, greeting the judge three lengths ahead of his rivals. Fitter third-up, he’s raced well at the opposite way of going in Queensland previously and gets into this race well under the conditions.
| 12. Charming Nic (10) Scratched: | |||
