Ethereal's Granddaughter Wins Ethereal Stakes

Could there be a more fitting winner of Saturday's $150,000 Group III New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m), than a granddaughter of the great mare?.

Doing the right thing by the sponsors was the Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman-trained filly Eleonora who stamped her Victorian Oaks credentials with a one and a quarter length defeat of Tiamo Grace (Monaco Consul) with Savvan (Savabeel) three-quarters of a length away third.(photo Grant Courtney)

Luckless when out of a place in the Group II Edward Manifold Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on October 2, Eleonora was given a copybook ride by Damien Oliver to register her first stakes win.

"It just panned out a treat. It was a bit hairy-fairy when things weren't going to pan out and she was boxed in a bit," Andrew Forsman said.

"But she got a dream run through and for all the bad luck she had last time, she made up for it today."

Forsman said the daughter of Makfi (GB) was on track for her main goal the $1 million Group 1 Crown Oaks at Flemington on November 3.

"That's why we brought her here and we knew if she'd just pick up enough money to get in the race, she'd he hard to beat," Forsman said.

A $60,000 purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock out of the Pencarrow Stud draft at the 2015 NZ Bloodstock Premier Yearling sale, Eleonora is the fourth foal of the unraced Van Nistelrooy mare Sopra Tutto a half-sister to the Group 1 NZ Derby third Umbrellas out of the grand racemare Ethereal.

The daughter of Rhythm (USA) was the Champion Stayer in Aust. & NZ in 2001-02. Her 8 wins included four at the elite level, the STC BMW Stakes, Melbourne Cup, Queensland Oaks, and Caulfield Cup.

Ethereal was herself a daughter of a top racemare, Romanee Contee (Sir Tristram), who is a three-quarter-sister to Grand Echezeaux (dam of Darci Brahma and Burgundy) and Our Echezeaux (dam of Dolmabache and Pure Elegance).

Sopra Tutto has a 2yo filly by Savabeel and a yearling filly by Cape Blanco (IRE).

She was covered by Atlante last spring.

Eleonora becomes the 12^th stakes-winner for Westbury Stud shuttler Makfi (GB).

The English 2000 Guineas and the Prix Jacques le Marois winning son of Dubawi has recently been sold by Qatar Bloodstock to the Japan Bloodhorse Breeders' Association.