Atishu has no excuses in latest attempt at Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Fleminton

Chris Wallers says Atishu is in prime condition to go one better in the Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.

Atishu will have few excuses if she fails to improve on last year’s result in Saturday’s Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.

Atishu charged home from a long way back when second to Pride Of Jenni in last year’s edition of the mares’ feature.

The now seven-year-old has drawn one gate wider this year but trainer Chris Waller said Atishu was in prime condition for her shot at a third Group 1 win.

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“Atishu she’s a mature mare and has been a very good horse to us for a long time, those horses you get to know them very well,” Waller said.

“We can see this week she’s starting to dapple up as we call it, where their coat just goes to a new level.

“If she was in Fashions on the Field she’d be doing a good job for herself.”

Waller has won the Empire Rose Stakes twice with Red Tracer (2013) and Shillelagh (2018).

He said the Flemington track suited the likes of Atishu, who is likely to settle in the second half of the field.

“She’s drawn a little bit wide, got James McDonald aboard, she loves Flemington, she loves Cup Week, and the beauty of racing at Flemington is that most horses get their chances,” Waller said.

“It’s such a vast open space, a long straight, plenty of room and hopefully luck is taken out of the equation and the best horses win the races.”

Atishu (left) finished second to Pride Of Jenni in last year’s Empire Rose Stakes. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Atishu backed up seven days after last year’s Empire Rose Stakes to win the Group 1 Champions Stakes.

Waller planned to do the same with the Savabeel mare this year.

“She’s a great back-up horse, that’s providing she pulls up well, recovery is good and she’s sound and happy,” Waller said.

“We did it earlier in the prep, she backed up in seven days and was placed in a Group 1 race and last year she ran to a new high winning the Champions Stakes.”

Ladbrokes rates Atishu as the $4.60 favourite in Empire Rose Stakes betting in which WA mare Alsephina has firmed from $10 to $8.

Warrnambool-trained mare Plenty Of Ammo has also had support, firming from $7.50 to $6.50 after her win in last Saturday’s Group 2 Crystal Mile at The Valley.

Originally published as Atishu has no excuses in latest attempt at Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Fleminton