Empire Rose Stakes Race Information

The Empire Rose Stakes is a 1600 metre weight-for-age race for fillies and mares three-year-old and upwards run by the Victoria Racing Club. It is held at Flemington on Victoria Derby Day in late October or early November three days before the Melbourne Cup.

  • Race Type: Group 1
  • Distance: 1600 metres
  • Conditions: WFA, 3YO & upwards, Fillies and mares
  • Track: Flemington Racecourse, Melbourne, Victoria
  • Prizemoney: $1,000,000
  • Date: Saturday 2 November 2024

Empire Rose Stakes Race History

The Empire Rose Stakes/Myer Classic was first held as a listed race called The Honda Legend in 1988 over 1600 metres when it was won by the tough mare Concordance under set weights and penalties for mares. It has had several name changes and has increased in status over the years. It has been known as the Hong Kong Bank Stakes, Hardy Brothers Classic, Nestle Peters Classic, Empire Rose Stakes and became the Myer Classic in 2005.

In 2003 the conditions were amended from set weights and penalties to weight-for-age and three-year-old fillies were allowed to run. The following year, 2004, it was granted Group 1 status and it is the only Group 1 race of the Melbourne Spring Carnival for fillies and mares. It is also gave Derby Day its fourth Group 1 race making it one of the best racing programs in the world.

Lead-up races are the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes over 1400 metres, the Ladies Day Vase, the Thousand Guineas, the Group 2 Waterford Crystal Mile over 1600 metres and the Group 1 Toorak Handicap over 1600 metres. Since the race gained Group 1 status the Group 1 Cox Plate has also been the lead-up race for several runners. Some horses will continue on from the Myer Classic by running in the Group 1 Emirates Stakes over 1600 metres the following week.

In 2021 Racing Victoria decided to offer a $1 million bonus for any horse that wins one of the 12 black-type races listed below and then wins the Empire Rose Stakes.

This could be in response to The Invitation which is one of Racing NSW’s new big money races for fillies and mares.

Our Runner by Runner Previews

2024 Empire Rose Stakes Preview and results

2023 Empire Rose Stakes Preview and results

2022 Empire Rose Stakes Preview and results

2020 Empire Rose Stakes Preview and results

Useful Facts

Last 3YO filly to win: Shoals (2017)

Multiple winners: none

Fastest time (1600m): Market Price (2001) 1:34:20

Interesting trivia:

Previous winners of the Empire Rose Stakes

The Myer Classic attracts top quality fillies and mares, and a win in this prestigious race will vastly increase their value as a broodmare. In the few years since it has been a Group 1 race it has been won by horses form Victoria, New South Wales and New Zealand. When I Am A Star won in 2016 she was the first three-year-old to win although Alinghi was narrowly beaten by New Zealand trained Miss Potential in the 2004 photo finish. Forensics (2008) was the first Golden Slipper winner to win the Myer Classic.

Year Winner Second Third
2024 Atishu Amelia’s Jewel Socks Nation
2023 Pride Of Jenni Atishu Life Lessons
2022 Icebath Mirra Vision Excelida
2021 Colette Mystic Journey Hungry Heart
2020 Shout The Bar Odeum Forbidden Love
2019 Melody Belle Aristia Spanish Reef
2018 Shillelagh (NZ) Bring Me Roses Fundamentalist
2017 Shoals Eckstein Dixie Blossoms
2016 I Am A Star (NZ) French Emotion Denmagic
2015 Politeness Fenway Azkadellia
2014 Bonaria Sweet Idea Catkins
2013 Red Tracer Catkins Fire Up Fifi
2012 Appearance Soft Sand Secret Admirer
2011 Hurtle Myrtle Sacred Choice Dysphonia
2010 Sacred Choice Typhoon Tracy Hot Danish
2009 Typhoon Tracy Lady Lynette Zarita (NZ)
2008 Forensics Absolutelyfabulous Mim Lebrock
2007 Divine Madonna Translate Red For Lou
2006 Lyrical Bid Seachange (NZ) Kosi Bay (NZ)
2005 Lotteria Miss Potential Shania Dane
2004 Miss Potential Alinghi Infinite Grace
2003 Zanna (NZ) Infinite Grace Mrs Tendulkar
2002 Miss Zoe Purple Groove (NZ) Ramano’s Star
2001 Market Price Pernod (NZ) Calm Smytzer (NZ)
2000 Super Sequel (NZ) It’s Platonic (NZ) Nova Clause
1999 Noircir Veil Our Erin
1998 Bonanova Lucys Way Graceful Encounter
1997 Prairie On A Swing Spectrum
1996 Rose Of Portland Gold City Miss Margaret
1995 Aunty Mary Our Marquise Tolanda
1994 Sedately Centisle Bon Precieux
1993 Mingling Glances Excited Angel Jon Jons Pet
1992 Excited Angel Something Wicked Beach Charm
1991 Western Chorus Marinella Holiday Lover
1990 Natural Wonder Ice Cream Sundae Our Grey Invader
1989 Echo Lass Modesty On Ice Dowager Empress
1988 Concordance Knightly Glimmer Lady Marita

From the archives:

2018 Myer Classic Preview & Tips:

Track: Good   Weather: Fine

There is a full field of 16 plus an emergency for the $500,000 Empire Rose Stakes/Myer Classic. Five of them had their last start in the Group 2 Tristarc Stakes, four in the G3 Ladies Day Vase, two in the G1 Thousand Guineas and two in the G3 Tesio Stakes. The betting is fairly open and the early favourite is Amphitrite who won the G1 Thousand Guineas last start making it 4 wins from 4 runs this campaign. Second favourite is Shillelagh who followed 4th in the Epsom Handicap with 4th in the Toorak Handicap, and will go well back against her own sex. Third favourite is Oohood who won the Flight Stakes before 3rd in the Caulfield Guineas.

Aloisia recorded the day’s best closing sectionals when 3rd in the Tristarc last outing and will appreciate the extra 200m. Shumookh won the Tristarc and has won 2 of her last 3 starts. Invincibella was 2nd in the Tristarc and won the G2 Blazer Stakes prior to that. I Am A Star won this race in 2016 and has won her last 3 starts – two Group 2’s and the G3 Ladies Day Vase. All other runners are currently 14 to 1 or longer, including Eckstein who ran 2nd last year.

The following are the top 4 selections from our tipster panel for this years race.

Jo’s Tips
15 Amphitrite
13 Oohood
1 I Am A Star
2 Invincibella