# Empire Rose

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{{Short description|New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox racehorse
| horsename = Empire Rose
| image = 
| caption = 
| sire = [Sir Tristram](/source/Sir_Tristram)
| grandsire = [Sir Ivor](/source/Sir_Ivor)
| dam = Summer Fleur
| damsire =  Sovereign Edition
| sex = [Mare](/source/Mare)
| foaled = 1982
| country = [New Zealand](/source/New_Zealand) 
| colour = [Chestnut](/source/Chestnut_(coat))
| breeder = 
| owner = Fred Bodle et al.
| trainer = Laurie Laxon
| record = 
| earnings =  
| race =  [New Zealand Cup](/source/New_Zealand_Cup) (1987)<br>[Mackinnon Stakes](/source/Mackinnon_Stakes) (1988)<br>[Melbourne Cup](/source/Melbourne_Cup) (1988)<br>[Trentham Stakes](/source/Trentham_Stakes) (1989)
| awards= 
| honours =  [Empire Rose Stakes](/source/Empire_Rose_Stakes)
| updated= 
}}
'''Empire Rose''' (1982–2002) was one of the most popular [Thoroughbred](/source/Thoroughbred) [mare](/source/mare)s to race in New Zealand and [Australia](/source/Australia). She was a gigantic [chestnut](/source/Chestnut_(color)), only just fitting into the barrier stalls in [Melbourne](/source/Melbourne).

Trained by Laurie Laxon, one of New Zealand's foremost trainers,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.turfclub.com.sg/RacingandOwnership/RacehorseOwnership/TrainersDirectory/tabid/124/Default.aspx#Laurie%20Laxon |title=Singapore Turf Club Trainer's Directory |access-date=10 May 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420110839/http://www.turfclub.com.sg/RacingandOwnership/RacehorseOwnership/TrainersDirectory/tabid/124/Default.aspx#Laurie%20Laxon |archive-date=20 April 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> at the Laurie Laxon Racing Stables at [Cambridge, New Zealand](/source/Cambridge%2C_New_Zealand), Empire Rose raced 48 times for nine wins and eight placings for NZ$2,644,234 ([A$](/source/A%24)1.95 million).<ref name="career">[http://www.racingvictoria.net.au/Racing/horse.aspx?horse_code=198539 Empire Rose's racing career]</ref> Among her major successes were the 1987 [New Zealand Cup](/source/New_Zealand_Cup), the 1988 [LKS Mackinnon Stakes](/source/LKS_Mackinnon_Stakes),<ref>[https://news.google.com.au/newspapers?id=PkYVAAAAIBAJ&sjid=_5YDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4920,9668077&dq=empire+rose+melbourne-cup&hl=en The day Empire rose to the occasion]</ref> the 1988 [Melbourne Cup](/source/Melbourne_Cup)<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.breednet.com.au/Stakes-Race-IndResults.asp?racename=Melbourne+Cup&md=1/11/1988 |title=1988 Melbourne Cup result |access-date=18 August 2012 |archive-date=5 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121105102137/http://www.breednet.com.au/Stakes-Race-IndResults.asp?racename=Melbourne%20Cup&md=1%2F11%2F1988 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and the 1989 [Trentham Stakes](/source/Trentham_Stakes).<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20020829212245/http://www.thoroughbredvillage.com.au/cgi/viewnews.pl?category=9&id=1016085969 Empire Rose - A Tribute]</ref>

Empire Rose was by the champion New Zealand sire, [Sir Tristram](/source/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 the [1986 Melbourne Cup](/source/1986_Melbourne_Cup) behind [At Talaq](/source/At_Talaq_(racehorse)), one place behind former winner [Kiwi](/source/Kiwi_(horse)).

In the [1987 Melbourne Cup](/source/1987_Melbourne_Cup) she was second to the fellow New Zealand bred [Kensei](/source/Kensei_(horse)) in a bumpy finish and eleven days later she won the 3200m [New Zealand Cup](/source/New_Zealand_Cup) at [Riccarton Park Racecourse](/source/Riccarton_Park_Racecourse).

The following year Empire Rose won the [Mackinnon Stakes](/source/Mackinnon_Stakes) on Saturday 29 October, then made her third attempt at the “Race that stops two nations” in the [1988 Melbourne Cup](/source/1988_Melbourne_Cup) on the following Tuesday, November the 1st. Young rider [Tony Allan](/source/Tony_Allan_(jockey)) 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. 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 time a mare had won the race in 23 years - the last being the New Zealander [Light Fingers](/source/Light_Fingers).

In 1989 Empire Rose won the [Trentham Stakes](/source/Trentham_Stakes).  Later that year as a seven-year-old, Empire Rose finished 3rd in the [Cox Plate](/source/Cox_Plate) behind [Almaarad](/source/Almaarad) and Stylish Century followed by a 5th in the [Mackinnon Stakes](/source/Mackinnon_Stakes) behind [Horlicks](/source/Horlicks_(horse)). She then started favourite but struggled to 15th in the [1989 Melbourne Cup](/source/1989_Melbourne_Cup) won by [Tawrrific](/source/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.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2002/March/12/Melbourne-Cup-winner-Empire-Rose-dies.aspx |title=Melbourne Cup winner Empire Rose dies |access-date=19 July 2010 |archive-date=10 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610211726/http://www.thoroughbredtimes.com/international-news/2002/march/12/melbourne-cup-winner-empire-rose-dies.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>

During her racing career, Empire Rose was often ridden in training work by [Sheila Laxon](/source/Sheila_Laxon), the then wife of trainer Laurie Laxon.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.jslracing.com.au/Con%20interviews%20Sheila.html |title=Sheila Laxon profile |access-date=10 May 2009 |archive-date=15 October 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091015021629/http://www.jslracing.com.au/Con%20interviews%20Sheila.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> Sheila Laxon went on to become a successful licensed trainer in her own right, training [Ethereal](/source/Ethereal_(horse)) to win the 2001 [Caulfield Cup](/source/Caulfield_Cup)-[Melbourne Cup](/source/Melbourne_Cup) double and she co-trained [Knight's Choice](/source/Knight's_Choice), winner of the [2024 Melbourne Cup](/source/2024_Melbourne_Cup).

==See also==

* [Thoroughbred racing in New Zealand](/source/Thoroughbred_racing_in_New_Zealand)

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/empire+rose Empire Rose's pedigree and partial racing stats]

Category:1982 racehorse births
Category:2002 racehorse deaths
Category:Racehorses bred in New Zealand
Category:Racehorses trained in New Zealand
Category:Melbourne Cup winners
Category:New Zealand Cup winners
Category:Thoroughbred family 8

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Empire Rose](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Rose) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Rose?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.