Kiwi Fillies Hold Strong Hand in NZB Ethereal Stakes

A field of 12 fillies will compete in Saturday’s Listed A$120,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield with many of them heading towards the Group 1 VRC Oaks.

Saturday's race is named after Group 1 Caulfield & Melbourne Cup heroine Ethereal.

The race is named after the brilliant kiwi mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm) who won the Group 1 Caulfield Cup on this day in 2001 before winning the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in the same year.

There are four kiwi fillies lining up in this year’s Ethereal Stakes including likely race-favourite Maastricht (NZ) (Mastercraftsman). The Karaka Premier Sale graduate has only had three starts in her career, winning her first two appearances before a narrow second placing in the Group 3 Edward Manifold Stakes last start. Trained by Team Hawkes, Maastricht will have to overcome the outside barrier for rider Dwayne Dunn.

Fellow Karaka Premier Sale graduate Little Hottie (NZ) (O’Reilly) was an impressive two-length winner on debut for trainer Mick Kent. The daughter of O’Reilly followed that up with a sound run in the Group 3 Edward Manifold Stakes. She will be ridden by Dean Yendall from barrier 3.

Rounding out a trio of Karaka Premier Sale graduates is the Peter Moody trained Imperial Lass (NZ) (Tavistock). The Tavistock filly cleared maidens at Mornington two starts ago before coming up against the boys in the Listed UCI Stakes last start. She has drawn barrier 9 with Moody’s stable rider Luke Nolen aboard.

Last start winner Savage Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) also carries the NZ suffix and was an impressive winner last start as she stepped up to a distance beyond 1400m. Her win over 1740m indicates the Savabeel filly will be suited to the extra distance on Saturday for trainer Robert Smerdon. She has drawn barrier 2 with Mark Zahra to ride.

At the top of the book is Listed winner Veuvelicious (Northern Meteor). A stakes winner over 1600m as a two-year-old, Veuvelicious is the most experienced runner in the field with nine starts that have yielded two wins for trainer Brent Stanley. She has drawn barrier 11 for rider Chad Schofield.

A winner at the Caulfield track already is Golconda (Snitzel) for trainer Robbie Laing. The Snitzel filly competed against the best two-year-olds last season – running in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes. She has drawn barrier 10 for jockey Vlad Duric.

Sydney filly Lady Macan (Where’s That Tiger) was a last start fourth in the Listed Dulcify Stakes behind subsequent Group 1 winner Hampton Court. David Payne travels the filly to Caulfield for her first start in Melbourne and has drawn barrier 8 for leading rider Hugh Bowman.

The Anthony Cummings trained Miss Interior (Flying Spur) started her career in Sydney as a two-year-old competing right up to Group 1 level. Now in Cummings’ Melbourne stable, the Flying Spur filly will be looking for her second career victory and will be ridden by Kerrin McEvoy from barrier 4.

Last start winner Get Square (Reset) is only lightly raced having only two starts which have produced a win and third placing for trainer Ciaron Maher. The Reset filly has drawn barrier 7 with Nicholas Hall to ride.

Completing the field are three maiden fillies; Hispter Girl (Nicconi) for Jason Warren, Tears of Joy (Street Cry) for Mark Kavanagh & Sistine Star (Denman) for Andrew Noblet.

Last season’s winner of the Ethereal Stakes was David Vandyke’s talented galloper Arabian Gold (Dubawi) who is now a multiple Group winner and Group 1 performer.

To view the full field for the Listed NZB Ethereal Stakes run at Caulfield, click here.