Strong Field for NZB Ethereal Stakes

Media Release - Thursday October 19

A quality field of three-year-old fillies will put their prospects for next month's Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m) to the test on Saturday when they run in a race which carries special significance for its sponsors, the A$150,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal Stakes (2000m) at Caulfield.

Ethereal(NZ) (Rhythm) was bred and raced by New Zealand Bloodstock principal Sir Peter Vela and his late brother Phillip. She won eight races including the Group 1 Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, BMW and Queensland Oaks. She won the Caulfield-Melbourne Cup double in 2001, the last horse to win both races in the same year.

The Ethereal Stakes was established in 2010, and its honour roll includes the subsequent Oaks winnerSet Square(Reset).

Advertisement

Last year's race had a fitting winner in the form of the classy New Zealand fillyEleonora(NZ) (Makfi), whose dam Sopra Tutto(NZ) (Van Nistelrooy) is a daughter of Ethereal.

The Ethereal Stakes will be run as Race 3 on Saturday's Caulfield Cup day programme with a start time of 1:25pm (3:25pm NZT).

Advertisment
More Reading...
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
New Stakes-Winner for Zoustar
The $150,000 Listed Hannan’s Handicap (1400m) provided reigning champion sire Zoustar with a new stakes-winner when seven year-old gelding Multinational led for home and could not be caught.
Kiwi Sires a Recipe for NZB Ready to Run Sale Success
Much of the NZB Ready to Run Sale’s extraordinary success has been underpinned by the stallions that have stood in New Zealand in recent decades.
2YO Stakes Racing – Sale Mail
Three stakes races for new season juveniles add plenty of interest to a stellar day of racing this Saturday in Sydney and Melbourne, so let’s take a look at the Sale Mail for these races.
One to Watch – Geelong
Trilogy Racing will have high hopes for the their talented filly Queen of Clubs in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes on Saturday and their colours were in the frame at Geelong on Thursday carried by a Zoustar filly that saluted on debut.
Who Was Flight?
A G1 race since 1984, the Flight Stakes is a race won by special fillies - often the ones who go on to do extraordinary things on the track against all comers as older mares and that's as it should be as Hall Of Fame legend Flight exemplified that style of thoroughbred.
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 Darley Flight Stakes
The prestigious Darley Princess Series reaches its crescendo this week with the 77th running of the $750,000 G1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) over Royal Randwick's famous mile.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday October 1
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.