Chances are you're about to lose.
For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au
One of the spring’s premier races for three-year-olds takes place in Sydney this weekend with a million dollars up for grabs at Rosehill, and Races.com.au are here with our expert Golden Rose Stakes 2026 field preview, tips and best bets.
As one of the early feature races of the carnival, the event regularly showcases exciting young talent, attracting highly rated colts and emerging contenders eager to make their mark on the spring racing stage.
An event won by a host of subsequent top-tier gallopers and sires including Toorak Toff, Zoustar, Exosphere, Astern, The Autumn Sun, Bivouac and last year’s champion Beiwacht, the Group 1 $1 million Golden Rose (1400m) always attracts a brilliant line-up of three-year-olds.
It is no different this year with a sensational Golden Rose 2026 field gathered and betting is dominated by the autumn’s Golden Slipper hero Guest House.
Having shrugged off the Slipper winners’ curse coming out an impressive first-up winner of the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes here on August 29, the Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr-trained Home Affairs colt is the heavily backed favourite in Golden Rose betting paying $2.60 with Ladbrokes to make it a hat-trick.
Last start winners have dominated the Golden Rose results in recent years with nine champions from 2009 – 2025 having won their lead-up, which bodes well for this guy drawn a dream in gate five with the airborne Zac Lloyd continuing associations.
While In The Congo (2021) was the last horse to complete the Golden Slipper – Golden Rose Stakes double, Guest House ticks plenty of boxes to be the next and remain undefeated at the Rosehill track despite the sharp rise in distance from 1100m to the seven furlongs.
The danger on the second line of betting and the early Golden Rose Stakes market mover is the untapped Chris Waller-trained St Gotthard ($4.60 into $4).
Waller has a terrific Golden Rose record having prepared four winners since 2012 including last year’s champion and has a strong chance to go back-to-back.
St Gotthard won his opening two career starts as a juvenile last prep including Queensland’s Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic before his three-year-old debut in the Group 2 Run To The Rose (1200m) on September 12.
He lost few admirers fresh going down under a half-length to Warwoven, should take great benefit from the run and master hoop James McDonald retains the ride.
Waller has a stranglehold numbers-wise on this year’s field with a further four runners in the mix including proven elite level winner Tron Bolt ($13).
The Toronado colt won Brisbane’s Group 1 JJ Atkins (1600m) over the winter before a credible seventh first-up in the Run To The Rose, but will relish the rise in trip here and is being kept safe in the markets.
The other Waller-trained contenders are the potentially underrated JJ Atkins third placed Stormy Marco ($31) who resumed with a second in the Group 3 Ming Dynasty, Group 1 Inglis Sires’ champ Campione D’Italia ($23) back against his own age after a first-up Group 3 Show County Quality seventh and progressive Frankel colt Central Europe ($19) with the outside alley to overcome third-up.
The only other runner under $10 for the win is the Bjorn Baker-trained Warwoven at Golden Rose odds of $6 who shapes up as a genuine each way play after his Run To The Rose victory.
Two-from-four at the Rosehill track, the consistent Sword Of State colt improved on his San Domenico fifth to win the traditional Golden Rose lead-up and is out to do the double for the first time since Bivouac (2019).
Rachel King sticks aboard the rails-drawn youngster this weekend.
Under Focus ($10) for Kris Lees is the best of the rest according to the markets after the Too Darn Hot colt’s Run To The Rose third.
The 2026 Golden Rose Stakes is scheduled as Rosehill Race 8 at 4:05pm (AEST) on Saturday’s 10-race card.
2026 Golden Rose Stakes Best Bets
Favourite: No. 1 Guest House
| 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. | |||
Each Way Danger: No. 4 Warwoven
| 4. Warwoven (1) J: Rachel King 56.5kg 16×51 T: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Third-up today. First-up 5th of 8 in the G3 San Domenico Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1100m, 3 len behind Guest House carrying 57kg at $7.50. Last start tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by a long-neck in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m defeating St Gotthard carrying 57kg at $8. | |||
Best Roughie: No. 8 Stormy Marco
| 8. Stormy Marco (12) J: Craig Williams 56.5kg 183×2 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 10 in the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality at this track on September 12 over 1400m, 0.6 len behind Persian Wonder carrying 58.5kg at $8. Previously second-up 8th of 16 in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 30 over 1400m, slow going 3.5 len behind Berzelius carrying 57kg at $11. | |||
Golden Rose Stakes 2026 Odds
| 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. | |||
| 2. Campione D’Italia (7) J: Ben Melham 56.5kg 412×7 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second-up. First-up after four months ran second last of 8 in the G3 Show County Quality at Randwick on August 22 over 1200m, slow going 5 len behind Midnight In Tokyo with 56.5kg at $5.50. Previously second-up won by a nose in the G2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick on February 28 over 1200m in soft going defeating Central Europe with 56.5kg at $41. | |||
| 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. | |||
| 4. Warwoven (1) J: Rachel King 56.5kg 16×51 T: Bjorn Baker | |||
| Third-up today. First-up 5th of 8 in the G3 San Domenico Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1100m, 3 len behind Guest House carrying 57kg at $7.50. Last start tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by a long-neck in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m defeating St Gotthard carrying 57kg at $8. | |||
| 5. St Gotthard (9) J: James McDonald 56.5kg 11×2 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after four months sat on speed throughout when 2nd of 11 in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m, long-neck behind Warwoven with 57kg at $2.60. Previously second-up favourite; scored a big 4 len win in the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at Gold Coast on May 9 over 1200m defeating Silken Salute carrying 57kg at $2.40. | |||
| 6. Cormier (6) J: Aaron Bullock 56.5kg 122×0 T: Paul Messara & Leah Gavranich | |||
| Second-up. First-up after three months ran second last of 11 in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 5 len behind Warwoven carrying 55kg at $18. Previously second-up came from midfield; 2nd of 9 in a 2yo Hcp at this track on May 30 over 1300m, on a wet track; 2 len behind Tron Bolt with 57kg at $2.80. | |||
| 7. Berzelius (8) J: Nash Rawiller 56.5kg 15×68 T: Michael Freedman | |||
| Third-up today and won third-up previously. First-up 6th of 8 in the G3 San Domenico Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1100m, 3 len behind Guest House carrying 57.5kg at $51. Second run from a spell eased back early on 8th of 11 in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 4 len behind Warwoven with 57.5kg at $51. | |||
| 8. Stormy Marco (12) J: Craig Williams 56.5kg 183×2 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Second run back. First-up after three months made some head-way from midfield; 2nd of 10 in the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality at this track on September 12 over 1400m, 0.6 len behind Persian Wonder carrying 58.5kg at $8. Previously second-up 8th of 16 in the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes at Eagle Farm on May 30 over 1400m, slow going 3.5 len behind Berzelius carrying 57kg at $11. | |||
| 9. Under Focus (4) J: Dylan Gibbons 56.5kg 13×63 T: Kris Lees | |||
| Third-up today and placed third-up in the past. Resuming 6th of 13 in a LR The Rosebud at this track on August 15 over 1100m, slow going 3 len behind Chilly Girl carrying 57kg at $9. Second-up 3rd of 11 in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 1.5 len behind Warwoven carrying 55kg at $6. | |||
| 10. Central Europe (13) J: Tim Clark 56.5kg 23×34 T: Chris Waller | |||
| Third-up today. First-up 3rd of 13 in a LR The Rosebud at this track on August 15 over 1100m, slow going 2 len behind Chilly Girl with 57.5kg at $5.50. Last start 4th of 11 in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 1.75 len behind Warwoven with 55kg at $5. | |||
| 11. Plagiarism (3) J: Regan Bayliss 56.5kg 7×319 T: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott | |||
| Last start sat on the speed throughout before fading 9th of 11 in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 5 len behind Warwoven carrying 57kg at $19. The race before that won by 0.7 len in the G3 Up and Coming Stakes at this track on August 29 over 1300m defeating Genesis Runner with 55kg at $8. | |||
| 12. Castillo King (10) J: Tommy Berry 56.5kg 145 T: Michael Freedman | |||
| Most recently crossed from a wide gate to lead but couldn’t hold on when 5th of 11 in a G2 The Run To The Rose at this track on September 12 over 1200m, 2.25 len behind Warwoven carrying 55kg at $15. Before that 4th of 13 in a LR The Rosebud at this track on August 15 over 1100m, slow going 2.5 len behind Chilly Girl carrying 54.5kg at $5. | |||
| 13. Tenenbaum (2) J: Chad Schofield 56.5kg 14×13 T: Brad Widdup | |||
| Third-up today. Resuming tracked the speed and boxed on steadily; won by 2.25 len in a 3yo Bm64 at Canterbury on August 26 over 1200m in soft going defeating Yangzi River with 61kg at $2.05. Second run from a spell 3rd of 10 in the G3 Ming Dynasty Quality at this track on September 12 over 1400m, 0.8 len behind Persian Wonder with 54kg at $4.80. | |||
