Empire Rose Stakes Tips - Symon Wilde mare has Plenty Of Ammo to make the step up to Group 1 level.

The Empire Rose Stakes is the third of the three Group 1 races at Flemington on Derby Day and sees the mares in action. 

Atishu holds favouritism after the barrier draw ahead of Amelia’s Jewel and Orchestral, while the impressive last start winner, Plenty Of Ammo, is also in single figures. 

Atishu drops in trip after placing 3rd in the Might And Power Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield, going 15 lengths faster than standard. She comes into this fifth up and claimed the Champions Stakes (2000m) at this stage last year, which was a week after when she was runner-up in this race behind Pride Of Jenni. 

Amelia’s Jewel has been racing in Sydney at her current prep in three runs since switching to the Anabel Neasham/Rob Archibald stable. The five-year-old comes off a last start 5th in the King Charles III Stakes (1600m), going 10 lengths faster than standard. 

Plenty Of Ammo is one of four last start winners in the race and is on the one-week back-up after taking out the Crystal Mile (1600m) on Cox Plate day, going 12 lengths faster. 

Alsephina (3rd) and Orchestral (6th) were well beaten in the Toorak Handicap (1600m) behind Antino but produced some solid figures with Alsephina going 10 lengths faster than standard. 

Zardozi produced a similar figure at her most recent start when 4th in the Caulfield Cup (2400m). She drops significantly in trip but will be running on. 

Grinzinger Belle and Socks Nationa re likely to set some degree of tempo, while the likes of Revolutionary Miss and Kimochi shouldn't be too far away. Expect Plenty Of Ammo to position up just forward of midfield after drawing barrier 3. 

Like last week, the race should set up nicely for Plenty Of Ammo and the only query is the short back up. But the Symon Wilde-trained galloper should have a bit left in the tank as this will be just her third runs this time in and at her last preparation, she improved more than seven lengths on benchmark figures at this stage when winning at Sandown with a two-week break in between runs. The lightly raced galloper maps perfectly from the draw and was strong at the end of the 1600m last weekend. 

Lekvarte is a typical Jo Pride-trained galloper that is getting better with maturity and comes off some different formlines, having scored impressively in the Angst Stakes (1600m) at Randwick on October 19.The six-year-old likes the mile, having won five of 10 over the distance. In the Group 3 Angst, she relished the hot tempo, coming from last at the 400m to knock over Quickster in the dying stages. She tends to produce her best when the pace is on and the daughter of Reliable Man should get that with Grinzinger Belle to roll forward. Flemington will also suit her.