Skyhook ready to go in the 2025 Golden Rose

The $1 million Golden Rose has been labelled one of the most even contests in years, with Gerald Ryan declaring every runner a genuine chance.

“It wouldn’t surprise me if any of them won it,” Ryan said. “They’re an even bunch of good horses. You usually get three chances in it and the rest are making up the numbers but I reckon this year there are nine chances in the race.”

Skyhook, trained by Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, is one of the leading hopes at $6.50. He resumed with a dominant win in the Rosebud (1100m) before finishing third to Tempted in the Group 2 The Run To The Rose (1200m).

Ryan knows the path well, having campaigned Menari through the same races in 2017 before he placed in the Golden Rose behind stablemate Trapeze Artist.

“I don’t like comparing them,” Ryan said. “Menari was unlucky because he pulled a shoe off coming out of the barriers and he was stuffed afterwards. He never raced again. Trapeze Artist just kept going forward. They’re all different horses but they all had good preparations going into it.”

Ryan and Alexiou will also saddle King Of Pop and Grand Eagle in the Listed Heritage Stakes (1100m). Ryan expects King Of Pop to lift significantly with blinkers applied and a better draw.

“King Of Pop will run heaps better. He’s got blinkers on. He’s drawn a barrier, and he won’t be going back,” Ryan said. “People say he went no good at his last start but he ran a faster last 600 (metres) than Skyhook but it was on that track where they couldn’t make ground and he drew wide and went back.”

As for Grand Eagle, the backmarker will look to swoop late and is being aimed at the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill next month.

If you’re betting on the Golden Rose, make sure to compare the best betting sites, trusted bookmakers, and leading betting apps before placing your bets.