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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. | |||
