First Group One opportunity for Damask Rose
Richard Edmunds - Raceform • September 19th, 2025 10:15 AM • 4 min read
Te Akau Racing star Damask Rose has amassed over $2.2 million in prize-money without ever competing at Group One level, but that anomaly will be rectified in Saturday’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes at Caulfield.
The daughter of Savabeel has had eight starts for four wins and two placings. She earned $170,000 from a strong-finishing second in the Karaka Millions 2YO in only the second start of her career last year, and as a three-year-old she added paydays of $795,000 from winning the Karaka Millions 3YO and $1.2 million from taking out the inaugural NZB Kiwi. Because of their restricted conditions, all of those races hold Listed status.
Damask Rose has made three appearances in Group races. She ran third behind Alabama Lass and Captured By Love in last year’s Gr. 3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings, then finished sixth in the Gr. 2 Auckland Guineas at Ellerslie on Boxing Day.
In her first race as a four-year-old, Damask Rose produced an eye-catching finish from last to run into a close fifth behind Magic Time in the 1200-metre Gr. 3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield on August 30.
That performance gave trainer Mark Walker and the Te Akau team all the confidence they needed ahead of the step up to Group One level for Saturday’s A$1 million feature.
“It was a really good run first-up in the Cockram,” Walker told RaceForm. “She found the line very nicely, which was exactly what we were wanting to see.
“She’s gone the right way since then. We were very happy with the way she galloped this (Tuesday) morning. Mick Dee came and rode her and was thrilled with how she felt.
“We think the step up to 1400 metres on Saturday will really suit, and the fact that she’s had a previous run around Caulfield should hold her in good stead. It can be a bit of a horses-for-courses track, so having that experience under her belt is always a plus.”
Damask Rose will carry only 52 kilograms in Saturday’s Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes. Earlier this week the TAB rated her a $9 chance, sharing third favouritism with last year’s runner-up Another Wil.
The market was headed by impressive last-start Listed Chautauqua Stakes winner Angel Capital at $3.50, with first-up Caulfield winner Sepals the second elect at $4.
Angel Capital’s trainer Chris Waller had considered saving the lightly raced four-year-old for the Gr. 1 Manikato Stakes over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley on September 26, but has been swayed by his 53.5-kilogram impost on Saturday.
“We'd love to go the Manikato, but he’ll get in well at the weights in the Sir Rupert Clarke and 1400 metres will be no problem,” Waller told Racing And Sports. “I'd hate to miss the Sir Rupert Clarke and then draw the outside barrier in the Manikato.
“If we're good enough to win a Manikato, I'm sure he'll win multiple Group One races, so I think we'll just try the Sir Rupert Clarke.
“We have been patient with him, just with wet tracks and things like that, but he's a really nice horse.”
