Godolphin looks set to have a stranglehold on the Golden Rose with Run To The Rose quinella Tempted and Beiwacht.
The new era of the Blue Army in Australia will look for its first Group 1 in a race it has dominated – winning five times with its private trainers – James Cummings, John O’Shea and Peter Snowden.
Godolphin’s racing manager Jason Walsh confirmed both three-year-olds will take their place in the Golden Rose on Sunday.
The favourite, Tempted, will be trying to become only the second filly, and first in the spring, to win the Golden Rose while Beiwacht will attempt to match the deeds of his sire Bivouac in Saturday’s Group 1.
Tempted led home a Godolphin one-two in the Run To The Rose from Beiwacht, winning in eye-catching fashion and is the one to beat.
However, a Beiwacht Golden Rose victory would make him a stallion in waiting and give his sire a first Group 1 winner.
Tempted hasn’t won a Group 1 but has a Golden Slipper placing and could follow a familiar path from the Golden Rose to the Everest and then the Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington, where she will be a chance to prove herself the best of her generation.
Beiwacht, a $15 Golden Rose chance, will be one of four colts for Chris Waller, who also has Golden Slipper runner-up Wodeton and the Ming Dynasty quinella of Sixties and Autumn Boy.
James McDonald is set keep his relationship with Coolmore by riding Wodeton but a final decision will not be made until Tuesday.
McDonald hinted in a radio interview on Sunday that Wodeton would have blinkers in the Golden Rose, as will Autumn Boy, who has had the gear change also registered with Racing NSW.
Autumn Boy only just failed to run down Sixties first-up in the Ming Dynasty and blinkers should have him a bit sharper for the Golden Rose.
Kris Lees believes the 1400m will suit Rivellino at his third run back this spring, while Skyhook, which flew home for third in the Run To The Rose, is another that will be well supported in the market.
