The $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose (1400m) this Saturday offers the winner far more than prizemoney and assuming it’s a colt he is given a golden ticket to a commercial stud career, so let’s take a look at this year’s contenders, who would you want on your stallion roster in 2026?
The race favourite Tempted is a filly, but her task is a tough one as detailed in this story published earlier this week with no filly successful in this race since it was elevated to G1 status in 2009, read more here.
To win she has to get past all eight colts below and while some of these guys will be looking beyond Saturday, others are primed for their grand final.
1/ Beiwacht (Bivouac) – Godolphin homebred now trained by Chris Waller and will be looking to add to their exceptional record in the race. Darley have started the stud careers of seven Golden Rose winners since the race became G1 in 2009 (read more about that here) including Beiwacht’s sire Bivouac.
2/ Nepotism (Brutal) – G1 winner last season of the ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m). Bred and sold by Gilgai Farm and comes from the famed Black Caviar family that has also produced Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk. Owners will be looking for a stud deal with Vinery probably the front runner.
3/ Skyhook (Written Tycoon) – G3 Pago Pago winner last season and third up here so primed for a huge run. By a champion sire and proven sire of sires from a desirable female family so owners will be sitting on a goldmine if he wins.
4/ Wodeton (Wootton Bassett (GB) – Expensive Coolmore yearling purchase that has promised a lot and never runs badly, but needs to find that bit extra to put a big win on the board. Blinkers first time might help him find that length he needs and barrier one a plus.
5/ State Visit (Wootton Bassett (GB) – Another colt by ill-fated Wootton Bassett and this one a homebred for Coolmore. He is the first foal of G1 winning Redoute’s Choice mare Celebrity Queen, who was purchased by Tom Magnier for $2.5million at the 2021 Inglis Chairman’s Sale. Best run in his career so far was at 1400m when beaten a neck by Vinrock in G1 ATC Sires Produce Stakes.
6/ Rivellino (Too Darn Hot (GB)- G2 Skyline Stakes winner last season and by the same sire as last year’s Golden Rose winner Broadsiding. Owners will be looking for a stud deal if he wins.
7/ Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) – Untapped colt that has won two from three and while pedigree says further will be better, blinkers are going on to keep him sharp for this race which was also won by his sire The Autumn Sun. Owned by a relatively new investor Glenn Ritchie, who might have hit the jackpot with this colt.
8/ Sixties (Flying Artie)- Rapid improver who beat Autumn Boy last start to win G3 Ming Dynasty (1400m) and is highest priced yearling ever by his sire Flying Artie being a full brother to dual G1 winner Artorius, who stands at Newgate. Runs for Aramco Racing.
