Empire Rose
Encyclopedia
Empire Rose was one of the most popular Thoroughbred
mare
s to race in New Zealand and Australia
. She was a gigantic chestnut
, only just fitting into the barrier stalls in Melbourne
.
Trained by Laurie Laxon, one of New Zealand's foremost trainers, at the Laurie Laxon Racing Stables at Cambridge, New Zealand
, Empire Rose raced 48 times for nine wins and eight placings for NZ$2,644,234 (A$1.95 million). Among her major successes were the 1987 New Zealand Cup
, the 1988 LKS Mackinnon Stakes
, the 1988 Melbourne Cup
and the 1989 Trentham Stakes
.
Empire Rose was by the champion New Zealand sire, Sir Tristram
(IRE), from Summer Fleur by Sovereign Edition (IRE), and was expected to perform well like other Sir Tristram progeny. She showed promise when fifth in 1986 Melbourne Cup and was second in a bumpy finish to the cup in 1987.
In 1988, Empire Rose won the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday 29 October, then made her third attempt at the "two-miler" on the following Tuesday. Young rider Tony Allan had the mare handily placed all the way and she led the big field around the home turn. Despite a flashing finish from Natski, Empire Rose refused to give in, winning by a short head on the line. Interestingly, Natski's rump was actually ahead of hers, highlighting her large size. She was given a rousing reception for her win, given it was the first a mare had wone the race in 23 years - the last being the New Zealander Light Fingers
.
As a seven-year-old the following year Empire Rose struggled to 15th in the Melbourne Cup won by Tawrrific, and was retired to stud.
On 12 March 2002 Empire Rose, was euthanized at her birthplace and home, Whakanui Stud, in Hamilton, New Zealand, due to deteriorating health and an incurable foot problem.
During her racing career, Empire Rose was often ridden in training work by Sheila Laxon
, the then wife of trainer Laurie Laxon. Sheila Laxon went on to become a successful licensed trainer in her own right, training Ethereal
to win the 2001 Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
mare
Mare
Female horses are called mares.Mare is the Latin word for "sea".The word may also refer to:-People:* Ahmed Marzooq, also known as Mare, a footballer and Secretary General of Maldives Olympic Committee* Mare Winningham, American actress and singer...
s to race in New Zealand and Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. She was a gigantic chestnut
Chestnut (color)
Chestnut, also known as Indian red, is a color, a medium brownish shade of red, and is named after the nut of the chestnut tree.As Indian red, it is named after the red laterite soil found in India. It is thus an earth tone as well as a red. It is composed of naturally occurring iron oxides. Other...
, only just fitting into the barrier stalls in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
.
Trained by Laurie Laxon, one of New Zealand's foremost trainers, at the Laurie Laxon Racing Stables at Cambridge, New Zealand
Cambridge, New Zealand
Cambridge is a town in the Waikato region of the North Island of New Zealand. Situated 24 kilometres southeast of Hamilton, on the banks of the Waikato River, Cambridge is known as "The Town of Trees & Champions".In the 1840s Cambridge had a Maori population but in the 1850's missionaries and...
, Empire Rose raced 48 times for nine wins and eight placings for NZ$2,644,234 (A$1.95 million). Among her major successes were the 1987 New Zealand Cup
New Zealand Cup
The New Zealand Cup is a thoroughbred horse race held at Riccarton Park racecourse in Christchurch, held on the final Saturday of New Zealand Cup week in November. The week also features the New Zealand 1000 and 2000 Guineas, with the New Zealand Trotting Cup on the Tuesday at Addington being the...
, the 1988 LKS Mackinnon Stakes
LKS MacKinnon Stakes
From 1869 to 1936 the LKS Mackinnon Stakes was known as the Melbourne Stakes.The LKS Mackinnon Stakes is a Victoria Racing Club Group 1 2000 metre Thoroughbred horse race run under Weight for Age conditions. The race is held at Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Australia on the Saturday before...
, the 1988 Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
and the 1989 Trentham Stakes
Trentham Stakes
The Trentham Stakes is a Group 3 weight-for-age race held for thoroughbred racehorses at Trentham Racecourse near Wellington, New Zealand. Held over 2100 metres in January, it is seen as the main lead-up race to the Wellington Cup, which is run the following week....
.
Empire Rose was by the champion New Zealand sire, Sir Tristram
Sir Tristram
For the Knight of the Round Table, see Tristan.For the ship of the same name see RFA Sir Tristram Sir Tristram was an Irish-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who stood at stud in New Zealand, where he sired an extraordinary 45 Group One winners, including three Melbourne Cup winners...
(IRE), from Summer Fleur by Sovereign Edition (IRE), and was expected to perform well like other Sir Tristram progeny. She showed promise when fifth in 1986 Melbourne Cup and was second in a bumpy finish to the cup in 1987.
In 1988, Empire Rose won the Mackinnon Stakes on Saturday 29 October, then made her third attempt at the "two-miler" on the following Tuesday. Young rider Tony Allan had the mare handily placed all the way and she led the big field around the home turn. Despite a flashing finish from Natski, Empire Rose refused to give in, winning by a short head on the line. Interestingly, Natski's rump was actually ahead of hers, highlighting her large size. She was given a rousing reception for her win, given it was the first a mare had wone the race in 23 years - the last being the New Zealander Light Fingers
Light Fingers
Light Fingers was a New Zealand bred thoroughbred racehorse who won the Melbourne Cup in 1965.The lightly built chestnut was by the highly successful sire of stayers, Le Filou, from Cuddlesome by Red Mars , by Hyperion...
.
As a seven-year-old the following year Empire Rose struggled to 15th in the Melbourne Cup won by Tawrrific, and was retired to stud.
On 12 March 2002 Empire Rose, was euthanized at her birthplace and home, Whakanui Stud, in Hamilton, New Zealand, due to deteriorating health and an incurable foot problem.
During her racing career, Empire Rose was often ridden in training work by Sheila Laxon
Sheila Laxon
Sheila Laxon was the first female thoroughbred horse trainer to win the Australian cups double, the Caulfield Cup and Melbourne Cup, with her mare Ethereal in 2001...
, the then wife of trainer Laurie Laxon. Sheila Laxon went on to become a successful licensed trainer in her own right, training Ethereal
Ethereal (horse)
Ethereal is a New Zealand Thoroughbred mare who was a very successful racehorse. She was owned and bred by brothers, Peter and Phillip Vela who own Pencarrow Stud and New Zealand Bloodstock. Ethereal was sired by the 1989 U.S. Champion 2-Yr-Old Colt and Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner, Rhythm . Her...
to win the 2001 Caulfield Cup-Melbourne Cup double.