Spring WFA Championship Jewel in NZB Australian Sponsorship Crown

Media Release - Thursday July 27

New Zealand Bloodstock has signed a two-year deal with the Melbourne Racing Club to continue its title sponsorship of the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes, the New Zealand Bloodstock Spring WFA Championship and the Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes.

NZB has sponsored the Memsie Stakes since 2010. The prestigious 1400-metre race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2014, making it the first Group 1 race of the Australian season. The exciting growth of the race continues in 2017 with its stake increase to A$1 million.

The Memsie Stakes roll of honour includes such legends of the Australasian turf asSunline(NZ),So You Think(NZ),Phar Lap(NZ),Rising Fast(NZ),Manikato,Galilee,Makybe DivaandAjax.

To be held at Caulfield on September 2, the Memsie Stakes is set to once again be the starting point of spring campaigns for many of Australasia's top gallopers, including the Karaka graduatesJon Snow(NZ) (Iffraaj) andBonneval(NZ) (Makfi), winners of the Australian Derby and Oaks respectively.

The NZB Spring WFA Championship has proven to be a popular initiative in its six years of existence, this year offering almost A$3 million in prizemoney across a four-race Series with the Championship winner receiving trophies to the value of A$15,000.

All four races in the Series are held at Caulfield. The 2017 edition will begin with the A$200,000 Group 2 Back to Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on August 19, followed by the A$1m Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) on September 2, the A$750,000 Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) on October 1 and the A$1m Group 1 Ladbroke Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 14.

Black Heart Bart(Blackfriars) won the Championship last year, with earlier winners includingAtlantic Jewel(Fastnet Rock),Ocean Park(NZ) (Thorn Park) andLights Of Heaven(NZ) (Zabeel).

The A$150,000 Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m), to be held at Caulfield on October 21 this year, has a special significance for NZB. The race is named in honour of the greatEthereal(NZ) (Rhythm), the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner who was bred and raced by NZB and Pencarrow Stud's Sir Peter and the late Philip Vela.

The 2016 Ethereal Stakes had a fitting result, won by Karaka graduateEleonora(NZ) (Makfi) – granddaughter of Ethereal.

NZB Release


Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 22
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
Better Than Ready's Port Lockroy Triumphs in G1 Railway Stakes
Interstate visitors have a poor winning record in the $1,500,000 Group 1 Swan Draught - Railway Stakes, but Port Lockroy played his part in squaring the ledger when choosing the perfect spot to end a run of bad luck in stakes races.
Kiwi Bred Comeback King Globe wins Cranbourne Cup
The super-talented Globe put a troubled 14 months behind him with a powerful all-the-way win in Saturday’s A$500,000 Listed Cranbourne Cup (1600m).
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Another Feature Win for La Crique
La Crique sprouted wings in the Pukekohe straight on Saturday to come from a near-hopeless position and win the Gr.2 Dunstan Horsefeeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) in a photo finish.
Xtravagant Gelding Nadal Brilliant in Meteorite
Ciaron Maher has a stranglehold on pop-up and slot races and was back in the winner's circle again after the inaugural running of the $1,000,000 The Ladbrokes Meteorite (1200m) at Cranbourne.