NZB Spring WFA Championship Ready for Kick Off

For the fourth consecutive year New Zealand Bloodstock will sponsor the Spring Weight-for-Age Championship at Caulfield, kicking off with the Group 2 A$200,000 Back to Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes this Saturday.

Puissance de Lune winning last year's Group 2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes.

The 1400m feature is the first of four legs in the Championship run at Melbourne Racing Club’s Caulfield Racecourse. The Championship also includes the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes, Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes and concludes with the Group 1 Cathay Pacific Caulfield Stakes.

Saturday’s P.B. Lawrence Stakes has attracted a strong field of 11 runners with many at the beginning of their campaigns as they look for riches in the spring.

Last year’s winner of the race Puissance de Lune (Shamardal) returns to defend his title fresh up. The Darren Weir trained entire created a huge impression with the dominant nature of his win last year before running two seconds in Group 1 features last spring. The seven-year-old has not been seen since pulling up sore in the Group 1 Cox Plate and has opened as the early race-favourite for rider Brad Rawiller.

The highest rated horse in the race is Foreteller (Dansili) who will carry the number 1 saddle cloth. Chris Waller’s dual Group 1 winner performed well last spring winning the Group 1 Makybe Diva Stakes and is a previous Group 2 winner at Caulfield. Leading Sydney jockey Hugh Bowman travels down to Melbourne to take the mount.

The other Group 1 winner in the race is Peter Moody’s kiwi-bred Queensland Derby winner Brambles (NZ) (Savabeel). The talented Karaka graduate had a long injury lay-off and has had three starts this year. The now six-year-old is a winner of five races from 13 starts and has the services of Moody’s stable jockey Luke Nolan.

Moody has a second runner in the race with Lidari (Acclamation) opening as the early second favourite with bookmakers. The multiple Listed winner in France was victorious in the Group 2 Blamey Stakes earlier this year, a race won by Puissance de Lune prior to his success in this race last year. Ben Melham is reunited with the horse who he has previously ridden to victory over the same course and distance.

The second kiwi-bred horse Kincaple (NZ) (Pentire) has transferred to Melbourne trainer Mark Webb following a successful career in Western Australia. The Karaka graduate is a Group 3 winner in the west and has also been Group 1 placed. The Pentire gelding is being set for a tilt at the Group 1 Caulfield Cup this campaign and will be ridden by Dwayne Dunn on Saturday.

Speedy Seymour sprinter Zamorar (Scandal Keeper) will look to go one better than his second placing in this race two years ago for trainer David Bourne. The six-year-old gelding is fit for this race having had two races already this campaign, producing a win fresh up and a third placing in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Stakes behind Group 1 winning sprinter Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi). Apprentice rider Katelyn Mallyon has been aboard at his last two starts and is once again entrusted with the ride.

Completing the trio of kiwi-bred horses in the race is the Byron Cozamanis trained Excluded (NZ) (High Chaparral), a former Team Williams runner. The son of High Chaparral showed potential as a stayer winning seven races but has only had one race in the last 18 months and will be ridden by Steven Arnold.

Promising galloper Star Rolling (Casino Prince) worked through the grades to earn a tilt at the Group 1 Australian Cup last season. The five-year-old is a winner of four races including the Listed Tokyo City Cup. Trainers Peter Morgan & Craig Widdison have enlisted the services of Stephen Baster for the ride.

Last start Group 3 JRA Plate winner Spillway (Rail Link) is making his first appearance since that victory in Sydney last season. Trained by David Hayes & Tom Babering, Spillway has only had three starts in Australia after showing promise in Europe where he won three races. Melbourne’s leading metropolitan rider of last season Damien Oliver takes the mount on Saturday.

Consistent mare Gig (Commands) is looking to break through for her first stakes victory following placings at Group level in her last two starts. Trained by Shawn Mathrick, the Commands mare is looking to land her first black-type win after five previous placings. Vald Duric, who rode her last start, will be aboard again in the Group 2 feature.

Rounding out the field is promising stayer Let’s Make a Deal (Red Ransom) for trainer Nigel Blackiston. The five-year-old mare was a winner fresh up this time last year before a solid spring campaign that saw her narrowly miss out on a start in the Group 1 Melbourne Cup with a close second placing in the Group 3 Lexus Stakes. Chad Schofield, who has recently returned from injury, takes the ride.

The 2014 New Zealand Bloodstock Spring WFA Championship will see the best horses in Australasia compete for A$1.37 million in prizemoney plus trophies to the value of $25,000.

The second leg of the Series is the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m), the first Group 1 race in Australia, and will be run on 30 August.

To view the field for the Group 2 Back to Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes, click here.

To view the race schedule for the New Zealand Bloodstock Spring WFA Championship, click here.