Perfect Result for Dawnie in NZB Ethereal Stakes

An impressive win by Dawnie Perfect (Big Brown) in the A$150,000 Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield yesterday has her set for a tilt at the Group 1 VRC Oaks.

Dawnie Perfect winner of the Group 3 NZB Ethereal Stakes.

The NZB Ethereal Stakes is a key lead up for the Group 1 VRC Oaks with last year’s winner Set Square (Reset) winning the Group 1 feature following her win in the Ethereal Stakes. Dawnie Perfect will look to replicate the double this year.

“She’s been crying out for 2000m and will improve from that run,” commented trainer Clarry Conners. “I am really looking forward to seeing her run over 2500m in the Oaks.”

Yesterday’s triumph was not only Dawnie Perfect’s first stakes win but her first win from seven starts after entering the race as a maiden. Trained at Caulfield by Conners, this was also her first step up to a middle distance race following her last start three weeks ago over 1600m where she finished third.

“I was very pleased with the way she performed,” added Conners. “She was a maiden going into the race with her last two starts unlucky by short margins.”

Starting from barrier 7, Dawnie Perfect was settled behind midfield in the early stages by rider Jim Cassidy. Travelling three-wide, Cassidy angled her out to be the widest horse as the field straightened for home.

Racing strongly down the straight, Dawnie Perfect drew clear in the final strides to secure victory by three-quarters-of-a-length over Honesta (Monaco Consul) and race-favourite Ambience (Street Cry), who finished in second and third place respectively.

Saturday’s win gave her earnings a significant boost, now totalling A$106,065 for owners Dr KK Tam and Strawberry Hill Stud who bred her.

The daughter of Big Brown is out of New Zealand-bred mare Zagalia (Zabeel) who won the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and was fourth placed in the Group 1 WS Cox Plate and the Group 1 Underwood Stakes.

The Ethereal Stakes is named in honour of New Zealand’s Champion racemare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm) who won the Group 1 Caulfield Cup in 2001 before winning the Group 1 Melbourne Cup in the same year.

Karaka graduate Mongolian Khan (Holy Roman Emperor) is currently tracking the same path as Ethereal, winning the Group 1 Caulfield Cup yesterday shortly following the running of the NZB Ethereal Stakes.