Spring WFA Championship Jewel in NZB’s Australian Sponsorship Crown

New Zealand Bloodstock has signed a two-year deal with the Melbourne Racing Club to continue its title sponsorship of the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes, the New Zealand Bloodstock Spring WFA Championship and the Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes.

NZB has sponsored the Memsie Stakes since 2010. The prestigious 1400-metre race was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2014, making it the first Group 1 race of the Australian season. The exciting growth of the race continues in 2017 with its stake increase to A$1 million.

The Memsie Stakes roll of honour includes such legends of the Australasian turf as Sunline (NZ), So You Think (NZ), Phar Lap (NZ), Rising Fast (NZ), Manikato, Galilee, Makybe Diva and Ajax.

To be held at Caulfield on September 2, the Memsie Stakes is set to once again be the starting point of spring campaigns for many of Australasia’s top gallopers, including the Karaka graduates Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj) and Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi), winners of the Australian Derby and Oaks respectively.

The NZB Spring WFA Championship has proven to be a popular initiative in its six years of existence, this year offering almost A$3 million in prizemoney across a four-race Series with the Championship winner receiving trophies to the value of A$15,000.

All four races in the Series are held at Caulfield. The 2017 edition will begin with the A$200,000 Group 2 Back to Caulfield P.B. Lawrence Stakes (1400m) on August 19, followed by the A$1m Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Memsie Stakes (1400m) on September 2, the A$750,000 Group 1 Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (1800m) on October 1 and the A$1m Group 1 Ladbroke Caulfield Stakes (2000m) on October 14.

Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars) won the Championship last year, with earlier winners including Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) and Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel).

The A$150,000 Group 3 Ethereal Stakes (2000m), to be held at Caulfield on October 21 this year, has a special significance for NZB. The race is named in honour of the great Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm), the Caulfield and Melbourne Cup winner who was bred and raced by NZB and Pencarrow Stud’s Sir Peter and the late Philip Vela.

The 2016 Ethereal Stakes had a fitting result, won by Karaka graduate Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi) – granddaughter of Ethereal.

Click here for past NZB Caulfield Spring Weight-for-Age Championship results.