Favourite Wins NZB Ethereal Stakes

Sydney visitor Arabian Gold (Dubawi) proved too good the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) for three-year-old fillies at Caulfield on Saturday as race-favourite.

Arabian Gold wins the Listed NZB Ethereal Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday.

The David Vandyke filly had won half of her eight starts before Saturday and carried strong form around the best three-year-old filly in Australia Guelph.

The daughter of Dubawi came into Saturday’s race having run second to Guelph in the Group 2 Tea Rose Stakes before finishing fourth to the same filly in the Group 1 Flight Stakes.

Jockey Peter Robl placed the favourite in fourth position behind a strong pace that made the 2000m a staying test for the fillies with most having their first start over a staying trip in their careers.

In the straight, Arabian Gold took the lead along with second favourite Solicit (Street Cry) and the pair fought out the race with Arabian Gold proving successful, winning by half-a-length from Solicit with fellow Sydney trained galloper Refer (Fastnet Rock) holding third position.

“I thought if she got the 2000m she would just be winning and that was the case fortunately,” stated Vandyke.

“They changed the conditions of the race to set-weights and penalties so she got in very well at the weights after behind running Guelph.

“It was great to see her handle the 2000m and we can move positively into the Wakeful Stakes over the same distance at Flemington.

“We will see how she recovers from the Wakeful before we make any decision about the Oaks. She has recovered ok from the Ethereal Stakes and I am pretty positive about heading to the Wakeful.

“I didn’t have much of an opinion of her from her first trial and it was actually owner Nick Moraitis who saw more in the trial than I did.

“Her first start at Gosford was only ordinary, she ran fourth of seven. Peter Robl actually identified that she was the type of horse that will benefit from being ridden back in the field with cover.

“I wouldn’t say she was a natural to begin with but she has certainly kept improving with racing.”

The win was the fifth from nine starts for Arabian Gold who is owned by Nick Moraitis, owner of the great Might and Power (NZ), and has now earned $276,855 in prizemoney.

Arabian Gold is the second favourite for the Group 1 VRC Oaks on the back of Saturday’s win and she is out of Coablo (Vettori) who is from the family of Group 1 VRC Derby winner King’s High (Full on Aces) indicating the further distance of the Oaks will suit.

For news and sale information from New Zealand Bloodstock visit www.nzb.co.nz.