A star field is set to assemble for the G1 NZ Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday. It’s also the second leg of a four-race series for the NZB Spring WFA Championship.
The NZB Memsie Stakes will be run at Group 1 level for the first time this season to become the first Group 1 race on the Australian racing calendar. The elevation to Group 1 status has been well justified, with a high class field attracted including nine individual Group 1 winners.
Saturday’s feature race will see the much anticipated return of unbeaten mare Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock). Winner of all seven of her starts, the now five-year-old mare has not raced for over year when she was last seen winning the 2012 All Aged Stakes in Sydney.
The Mark Kavanagh trained mare has long been touted as a horse of immense ability and, despite her lengthy layoff due to injury, she is likely to start as the race favourite.
NZ’s Champion 3YO It’s A Dundeel (NZ) will be among the many starters making their seasonal debuts. The Murray Baker trained galloper is returning from an extraordinary three-year-old season where he won four G1 races including the 3YO Triple Crown in Sydney.
The son of High Chaparral has raced three times in a fresh state, recording two wins. He resumes his association with star Kiwi jockey James McDonald on Saturday.
The New Zealand flag will also be represented by G1 New Zealand Derby winner Silent Achiever (NZ). The Roger James trained O’Reilly mare was successful last spring in Melbourne, winning the G2 Crystal Mile (1600m) when defeating G1 winners Rangirangdoo (NZ) and Solzhenitsyn (NZ).
Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Ferlax (NZ), a graduate of the NZB’s Select Sale, will be looking to add another Group 1 to his tally. The son of Pentire was doing his best work late over 1200m in the G3 Aurie’s Star Stakes fresh up three weeks ago and gives the impression a step up to 1400m will suit.
The Mick Price trained Ajeeb (NZ) also carries the NZ suffix next to his name and will be looking to build on the 8 points he received for running second in the first leg of the NZB Caulfield Spring WFA Championship.
With three runs under his belt this campaign, Ajeeb (Al Maher) will give the field something to chase as he looks to be the obvious pacemaker.
One runner that is sure to create interest is last season’s Melbourne Cup winner Green Moon (Montjeu). Trained by Robert Hickmott for Lloyd Williams, the European import has twice won fresh up, including a G2 win in the Blamey Stakes over 1600m.
The Williams family together with an extended group of owners will also be represented by another international import in Seville (Galileo). The son of the great sire Galileo has only won one race in his 14-start career but has been placed second on four occasions at Group 1 level.
One of those placings was behind Green Moon in the G1 Turnbull Handicap last spring before injury curtailed his Cups campaign.
The runner up in last year’s Melbourne Cup, Fiorente (Monsun), will make the trip down from Gai Waterhouse’s Sydney stables for his second run since last season’s two-mile feature. The son of champion German sire Monsun was seen flying home to run third behind All Too Hard in the G1 All Aged Stakes (1400m) in the Sydney autumn carnival at his only other Australian appearance.
Mark Kavanagh has a two-pronged attack on the race with Group 1 Australian Cup winner Super Cool a formidable second stringer to favourite Atlantic Jewel. The four-year-old, also by Fastnet Rock, has won four of his nine starts.
The South Australian trained Happy Trails (Good Journey) returns to Melbourne for another spring campaign after a successful stint last year saw him score a breakthrough G1 victory in the Emirates Stakes (1600m). The six-year-old gelding will be looking to go one better than his runner-up placing in last year’s NZB Memsie Stakes.
Former Western Australia galloper Luckygray (Bradbury’s Luck) has been transferred to Caulfield based trainer Robert Smerdon for his spring campaign. A dual Group 1 winner in Perth, the grey has won three of his four starts second up in a preparation, the state he is in for Saturday’s race.
Last year’s NZB Memsie Stakes placegetter Second Effort (Mossman) will be looking to build on his position in the NZB Spring WFA Championship after gaining six points in the first leg of the Series for Caulfield trainer Clinton McDonald. With three runs already under his belt this campaign, the winner of the G3 Bletchingly Stakes at Caulfield two starts ago could have a fitness edge on many of his rivals.
Champion Victorian trainer Peter Moody will have My Quest for Peace (Galileo) in Saturday’s feature on his home track. The six-year-old entire was a multiple stakes winner in Europe before he was imported to Australia last season by prominent owners OTI Racing.
The NZB Memsie Stakes is the first Group 1 race of the season and has been scheduled for the last race on the day, run at 4.50pm (AEST)
Puissance de Lune (Sharmardal) won the first-leg of the NZB Caulfield Spring WFA Championship in the G2 Lawrence Stakes.