Golden Pendant

The Golden Pendant is a Group 2 event for fillies and mares held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in September as part of Golden Rose Stakes Day.

2023 Golden Pendant Results

  • 1st: #2 Espiona
  • 2nd: #1 Atishu
  • 3rd: #5 Banana Queen



The Golden Pendant is a Group 2 middle distance sprint held at Rosehill Gardens Racecourse in Sydney. The Golden Pendant was previously known as the Research Stakes and now takes place on Golden Rose Stakes Day.

Held in late September during the Sydney Spring Racing Carnival, the Golden Pendant has rapidly grown into a major target for fillies and mares each season due to the boosted stakes on offer.

Raced over 1400m under set weights and penalties conditions, the Golden Pendant is open only to fillies and mares aged three years and older. With a lucrative $400,000 in prize money on offer, the Golden Pendant is one of the major early spring events hosted by the Australian Turf Club (ATC).

A popular lead-up event to the Golden Pendant is the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) held a few weeks earlier at the same track. The Group 3 Tibbie Stakes (1400m) at Newcastle provides another preparatory opportunity a week out from the race. Mizzy (2019) was the last mare to do the Sheraco Stakes – Golden Pendant double.

More recently in 2023 Espiona improved on a second in the Sheraco to win the Golden Pendant by over two lengths.

Following the Golden Pendant, the course taken by horses depends entirely on their success in the race and their spring campaign plans.

The Golden Pendant shares the program with a host of other Group status races including the meeting’s marquee race, the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes (1400m) for three-year-olds. The other feature event on the card is the Group 2 Shannon Stakes (1500m) for Epsom Handicap-bound gallopers.

Any four-year-old mares out of the Golden Pendant may head towards the $10 million The Golden Eagle (1500m) in November, a race the 2019 Golden Pendant winner Mizzy ran third in the inaugural edition in to Kolding.

The form out of the 2021 Golden Pendant was franked with the winner, Vangelic, going on to run third in that year’s Golden Eagle trifecta, while the runner-up Nimalee returned in the autumn of 2022 to win the Group 1 Queen Of The Turf Stakes.

In 2022 Nimalee won the Golden Pendant before a third in that year’s The Invitation race, while the Golden Pendant runner-up Palaisipan further franked the form returning the next winter to win the Group 1 Tattersall’s Tiara race in Brisbane in 2023.

The 2023 Golden Pendant ran on Saturday September 23, 2023 as part of Sydney’s popular Golden Rose Stakes Day race card and was won in style by the Chris Waller-trained favourite Espiona ($2.35F) who put 2.39 lengths on her closest rival. 

Golden Pendant
Date: Saturday September 23, 2023
Track: Rosehill Gardens Racecourse
Distance: 1400m
Race Type: 3YO&UP F&M SW+P
Status: Group 2
Prize Money: $400,000

2023 Golden Pendant Results

  • 1st: #2 Espiona ($2.35F)
  • 2nd: #1 Atishu
  • 3rd: #5 Banana Queen

Chris Waller’s Group 1 Coolmore Classic winning daughter of Extreme Choice, Espiona ($2.35F), improved on a lead-up Sheraco Stakes second to storm home by over two-lengths saluting for the punters as favourite ahead of her stablemate Atishu in the 2023 Golden Pendant results to give form hoop of the spring Nash Rawiller an early double on the card.

Finish No. Horse Trainer Jockey Margin Bar. Weight Penalty Starting Price
1 2 ESPIONA Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 3 58kg $2.35F
2 1 ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller Joao Moreira 2.39L 8 58kg $5
3 5 BANANA QUEEN Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Kerrin McEvoy 3.59L 4 55kg $6.50
4 8 DIAMOND DEALER Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 4.82L 1 54kg $21
5 6 MORE SECRETS Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tyler Schiller 5.23L 6 54kg $13
6 3 ZOUGOTCHA Chris Waller Ryan Moore 5.62L 5 58kg $5
7 7 SO DAZZLING (NZ) John Sargent Jason Collett 8L 2 54kg $101
8 4 SHEEZA BELTER Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 8.39L 7 58kg $14

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Golden Pendant Betting Odds

The spring’s best Golden Pendant 2023 odds and betting market links to Ladbrokes.com.au on the Group 2 race for fillies and mares will be available below the week of the race.

Espiona ($2.35 in 2023) was the last favourite in Golden Pendant betting to win.

CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST 2023 GOLDEN PENDANT ODDS (Final Field)

2023 Golden Pendant Form

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL 2023 GOLDEN PENDANT FORM GUIDE

2023 Golden Pendant Tips

Stay tuned for our insider Golden Pendant 2023 Tips on the popular Rosehill event for female gallopers this spring.

  • To Win: #2 Espiona ($2.60 at time of publish) – BET NOW

Small but quality field for the Golden Pendant and happy to stick with the Chris Waller-trained favourite. Hoop of the hour Nash Rawiller was brilliant in Sydney last Saturday and retains the ride on this five-year-old daughter of Extreme Choice who has a great record over the distance (6:3-0-1). Group 1 Coolmore Classic winner at the track in the autumn and is second-up here with previous winning form second-up (4:2-0-1). Fresh she was good in the Group 2 Shearco Stakes here when runner-up at double-figures behind Sunshine In Paris. Think that’s the form to follow here.

2023 Golden Pendant Field

The Golden Pendant field attracts a quality line-up of fillies and mares each season, many of which come out of either the Group 3 Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at the track a fortnight earlier or from a run against the boys in the Group 2 Theo Marks Stakes (1300m) on the same lead-up program.

Espiona (2nd in 2023) was the last Sheraco Stakes graduate to win the Golden Pendant.

The official Golden Pendant 2023 Final Field & Barriers will be released by Racing NSW on the Wednesday leading-up to the race and will be published in full below.

The 2023 Golden Pendant field features a diminutive but smart line-up of female gallopers led in betting by Chris Waller’s Group 1 winner Espiona second-up and drawn well.

No Last 10 Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Probable Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 123x216Px5 ATISHU (NZ) Chris Waller Joao Moreira 8 58kg 111
2 640x6117x2 ESPIONA Chris Waller Nash Rawiller 3 58kg 107
3 111x419x64 ZOUGOTCHA Chris Waller Ryan Moore 5 58kg 105
4 1x81x7830x SHEEZA BELTER Annabel Neasham Chad Schofield 7 58kg 103
5 11127×5741 BANANA QUEEN Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou Kerrin McEvoy 4 55kg 87
6 x3413x353x MORE SECRETS Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes Tyler Schiller 6 54kg 98
7 30x820200x SO DAZZLING (NZ) John Sargent Jason Collett 2 54kg 90
8 1125×48314 DIAMOND DEALER Bjorn Baker Ms Rachel King 1 54kg 80

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

2023 Golden Pendant Nominations

The 2023 Golden Pendant nominations close on the Monday leading-up to Golden Rose Stakes Day and will be available right here once early entries are released.

Last 10 Horse Sex Age Trainer Ballot Weight True Weight Penalty Hcp Rating
1 123x216Px5 ATISHU (NZ) M 6 Chris Waller 1 58kg 111
2 640x6117x2 ESPIONA M 5 Chris Waller 2 58kg 107
3 111x419x64 ZOUGOTCHA M 4 Chris Waller 3 58kg 105
4 1x81x7830x SHEEZA BELTER M 4 Annabel Neasham 4 58kg 103
5 x3413x353x MORE SECRETS M 6 Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes 5 54kg 98
6 30x820200x SO DAZZLING (NZ) M 4 John Sargent 6 54kg 90
7 11127×5741 BANANA QUEEN M 5 Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou 7 55kg 87
8 112x740x58 LACED UP HEELS M 4 Mick Price & Michael Kent (Jnr) 8 54kg 84
9 1125×48314 DIAMOND DEALER M 5 Bjorn Baker 9 54kg 80
10 x10250x503 BYRON BELLE M 4 John Sargent 10 54kg 69

Table Credit: Racing Australia. 

Golden Pendant History

Originally known as the Research Stakes, the Golden Pendant was named after 1989 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year, Research. As a three year old, she was the only filly to win the ATC Derby-ATC Oaks double (four days apart). Her 1988 season as a three year old saw Research take out the majority of three-year-olds only races. At four years old, Research dropped off somewhat in skill, and is largely remembered for her three year old season.

The Golden Pendant has only existed since 2011, when the Research Stakes first ran under the new name. Since then, the Golden Pendant has received considerable injections of prize money and is now one of the richest Group 3 races in Australia. Following much expectation, the Australian Racing Board elected to elevate the Golden Pendant to Group 2 status in 2015. The Research Stakes was inaugurated in 1996.

Prior to the 2012 edition, the Golden Pendant was raced over 1200m.

Notable Golden Pendant/Research Stakes winners include Fiddlestick (1996), Hot Danish (2009), More Joyous (2012), and Tycoon Tara (2016).

Golden Pendant results and winning times since 2000 are provided below.

Golden Pendant Results

Year Place Horse Time
2023
Golden Pendant
1st Espiona 1 minute 22.35 seconds
2nd Atishu
3rd Banana Queen
2022
Golden Pendant
1st Nimalee 1 minute 23.04 seconds
2nd Palaisipan
3rd Pippali
2021
Golden Pendant
1st Vangelic 1 minute 22.58 seconds
2nd Nimalee
3rd Entriviere
2020
Golden Pendant
1st Subpoenaed 1 minute 22.59 seconds
2nd Emeralds
3rd Jen Rules
2019
Golden Pendant
1st Mizzy 1 minute 22.58 seconds
2nd Champagne Cuddles
3rd Dyslexic
2018
Golden Pendant
1st Shumookh 1 minute 23.09 seconds
2nd Champagne Cuddles
3rd Princess Posh
2017
Golden Pendant
1st Daysee Doom 1 minute 23.75 seconds
2nd Dixie Blossoms
3rd Omei Sword
2016
Golden Pendant
1st Tycoon Tara 1 minute 22.60 seconds
2nd Dixie Blossoms
3rd Pearls
2015
Golden Pendant
1st Peeping 1 minute 23 seconds
2nd Two Blue
3rd Berry Delicious
2014
Golden Pendant
1st Arabian Gold 1 minute 22.7 seconds
2nd Catkins
3rd My Sabeel
2013
Golden Pendant
1st Sharnee Rose 1 minute 23.1 seconds
2nd Red Tracer
3rd Bennetta
2012
Golden Pendant
1st More Joyous 1 minute 25.4 seconds
2nd Skyerush
3rd Forarainyday
2011
Golden Pendant
1st Screen 1 minute 09.9 seconds
2nd Gybe
3rd Ofcourseican
2010
Research Stakes
1st Trim 1 minute 09.8 seconds
=2nd Montana Flyer
=2nd Girl Hussler
2009
Research Stakes
1st Hot Danish 1 minute 10.6 seconds
2nd Madame Pedrille
3rd Beaucoup
2008
Research Stakes
1st Judged 1 minute 11.1 seconds
2nd Illuminates
3rd Nediyms Dream
2007
Research Stakes
1st Race Not Held
2nd
3rd
2006
Research Stakes
1st Coolroom Candidate 1 minute 11.1 seconds
2nd Napa Sky
3rd Kakakakatie
2005
Research Stakes
1st Fumble 1 minute 09.5 seconds
2nd Battle Maiden
3rd One In A Million
2004
Research Stakes
1st Besame Mucho 1 minute 10.6 seconds
2nd Chatelaine
3rd Covet Thee
2003
Research Stakes
1st Classy Dane 1 minute 10.4 seconds
2nd Forum Floozie
3rd Gold Lottey
2002
Research Stakes
1st Mica’s Pride 1 minute 09.2 seconds
2nd Ancient Song
3rd Rare Insight
2001
Research Stakes
1st La Rieuse 1 minute 10.7 seconds
2nd Winona
3rd Gentle Genius
2000
Research Stakes
1st Spinning Hill 1 minute 11.1 seconds
2nd Brief Kiss
3rd Perfect Halo

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