The Golden Rose is not a race for fillies, and it’s not a race for Golden Slipper winners.

Both those assertions carry a large asterisk in the shape of Forensics, the only horse to have won the Golden Slipper at two and the Golden Rose at three.

In completing that unique double, Forensics also became the first (and still only) filly to win the Golden Rose – and no fewer than 49 have tried.

As you’re probably aware, though, Forensics’s Golden Rose win comes with an asterisk of its own. She won it in March 2008, the previous spring’s fixture having been wiped out by equine influenza.

The fillies’ spring Golden Rose drought will continue this Saturday. There is no filly in the field.

On the other hand, Forensics’s status as the sole possessor of the Golden Slipper-Golden Rose double is under threat from $2.80 favourite Guest House.

Guest House has already made (recent) history by winning last month’s San Domenico Stakes, defying the abysmal modern record of male Golden Slipper winners.

He thus became the first Golden Slipper-winning colt to win a race at three since Pierro, who took the 2012 Slipper (not to mention the Sires’ Produce and Champagne) then won five races the following season including the Group 1 Canterbury Stakes and George Ryder.

Pierro won the Run to the Rose that season but didn’t contest the Golden Rose.

Remarkably the only Golden Slipper-winning colt to run in a Golden Rose was Shinzo, who finished ninth to Militarize in 2023. The other Slipper winners to tackle it in spring were Fireburn (filly), Crystal Lily (filly) and Phelan Ready (gelding). All were unplaced.

This weekend’s Rose will also be unusual for Godolphin’s lack of a contender. Seven of the past 17 winners have carried the Godolphin blue (or Darley maroon and white).