Classy Field of Fillies to Contest NZB Ethereal Stakes
13 October 2016
A talented field of 15 three-year-old fillies will try to push their claims for higher honours when they contest Saturday’s A$150,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.
Fittingly run on Caulfield Cup day, the race is named in honour of Pencarrow Stud’s wonder-mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm) who scored extraordinary back-to-back wins in the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in 2001.
Now 19 years old, the magnificent $4.7 million earner was recently mated with last year’s Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor). A two-time New Zealand Horse of the Year, Mongolian Khan is a new addition to the stallion roster at Windsor Park Stud.
One runner in Saturday’s race has a direct connection to the champion mare the race is named for. New Zealand filly Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi), who is trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, is out of Ethereal’s unraced daughter Sopra Tutto (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy). Eleonora will attempt to turn her fortunes around after an unlucky 11th in the Gr. 3 Edward Manifold Stakes two weeks ago.
The field also features the last-start Listed Dulcify Quality winner Moqueen (Uncle Mo), Edward Manifold Stakes runner-up Bella Sorellastra (Lope De Vega) and the recent winners Savvan (NZ) (Savabeel), Madam Stryker (Stryker) and So Distinct (So You Think).
The NZB Ethereal Stakes has proven to be a strong lead-up to the A$1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks (2500m) at Flemington in early November. Set Square (Reset) won the Ethereal Stakes in 2014 on her way to Oaks success, while last year’s Ethereal Stakes second and third placegetters Honesta (Monaco Consul) and Ambience (Street Cry) filled the same placings in the Oaks.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Moqueen | 2 | Uncle Mo filly Moqueen took eight starts to win her first race, but she did it in style with a last-start victory in the Listed Dulcify Quality (1600m) at Randwick. | Anthony Cummings | Blake Shinn |
| 2 | Sebring Dream | 13 | The consistent Sebring Dream (Sebring) is backing up a week after running a commendable sixth behind Global Glamour (Star Witness) in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas (1600m). | David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig | Michael Walker |
| 3 | Bella Sorellastra | 15 | Bella Sorellastra (Lope De Vega) won two of her first six starts, then stepped up to the Group 2 Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) last start and ran a close second behind Serenely Discreet (Exceed And Excel). | Peter Morgan and Craig Widdison | Stephen Baster |
| 4 | Savvan | 12 | Beautifully bred Savvan (NZ) is by Savabeel out of the Group Two winner and Group One-placed Ruud Van Slaats (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy). She cost $350,000 at the 2015 Premier Sale. She has had four starts to date for a win and two placings. | Anthony Cummings | Craig Williams |
| 5 | Eleonora | 5 | Ethereal's granddaughter Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi) has had a win and four placings from six starts, including a second in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m). She was a luckless 11th last time out in the Edward Manifold Stakes. | Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman | Damien Oliver |
| 6 | Whyouask | 8 | Bel Esprit filly Whyouask has won one of her five starts and wasn't far away with a last-start seventh in the Edward Manifold Stakes. | Matt Laurie | Ben Melham |
| 7 | Tiamo Grace | 3 | The Darren Weir-trained Tiamo Grace (Monaco Consul) has finished in the first three in all of her three starts to date including a convincing maiden win at Donald. Rider Dean Yendall won his first Group 1 in last Saturday's Spring Champion Stakes aboard Yankee Rose (All American). | Darren Weir | Dean Yendall |
| 8 | Bettyrae Ruby | 1 | Breaking from the ace draw and with the services of world-class jockey Zac Purton, Bettyrae Ruby (O'Lonhro) has had four starts for a win, a placing and two respectable unplaced black-type efforts. | Tim Hughes | Zac Purton |
| 9 | Madam Stryker | 4 | By last season's New Zealand Derby-winning sire Stryker, Madam Stryker was an impressive last-start winner. | Mick Sell | Michael Dee |
| 10 | So Distinct | 6 | A daughter of the dual-hemisphere champion galloper So You Think, So Distinct convincingly won a maiden at her most recent start. | Robbie Griffiths | Luke Nolen |
| 11 | Nina Peak | 7 | Nina Peak (Hinchinbrook) may still be a maiden after four starts, but has been stakes-placed in the Listed Oaklands Plate (1600m) in Adelaide. | Robbie Laing | Craig Newitt |
| 12 | Red Velvet Swing | 10 | By in-form sire Star Witness, Red Velvet Swing has had one placing from six starts to date. | Danny O'Brien | Katelyn Mallyon |
| 13 | Arohata | 9 | A half-sister to last season's New Zealand Derby winner Rangipo (Stryker), Arohata (High Chaparral) has finished in the first four in all three starts to date. | Ciaron Maher | Dwayne Dunn |
| 14 | Von Richter | 14 | She may have finished last in the Edward Manifold Stakes last time out, but Von Richter (Von Costa De Hero) ran an eye-catching second in the start before that. | David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig | Damian Lane |
| 15 | Kamili | 11 | Kamili (Bernardini) is a daughter of the multiple stakes-winning mare Premardal (Shamardal). She has been unplaced in both starts to date. | Nick Ryan | Rhys McLeod |