Memsie Stakes

The Memsie Stakes is a Group 2 weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Caulfield Racecourse over 1,400 metres (approximately 7 furlongs). The total prizemoney for the race is A$201,000. It is run each year in late August as a lead in to the Spring Racing Carnival, and is conducted under the auspices of the Melbourne Racing Club.

The race is often used as a lead-up race by good horses preparing for the longer feature races such as the Caulfield Cup. Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup. Such horses typically compete against less glamorous, and usually fitter, sprinter-milers who have been trained specifically for this race. Speed and fitness seem to prevail over class about half the time, as can be seen in the list of recent winners.

As the race comes early in the Spring, it will often indicate how well a horse has come back after its customary Winter spell. There is sometimes just as much interest in the horses running on well from the back of the field, as there is in the actual winner. A good run by a staying horse in this race is often a good indicator of a successful Spring Carnival to come.

The Memsie Stakes is a virtually identical race to the J J Liston Stakes, another 1,400m weight-for-age race run at Caulfield the weekend before.

The race is rarely contested by three-year-olds as it comes too early in the Spring and 3yos have many other equally lucrative options racing against their own age at this time of year.

The race is over 100 years old with past winners including Phar Lap, Rising Fast, Comic Court, Galilee, Ajax, Lord and Manikato.

In 2004, Regal Roller, a front-running sprinter and a Caulfield track specialist, stole the race from the front.

In 2005, Makybe Diva used her win in the race as the launching pad for a dominant campaign that included victories in the Cox Plate and Melbourne Cup.

In 2006, El Segundo was an impressive winner. He went on to win the Underwood Stakes and record placings in the Caulfield Stakes and Cox Plate later in his campaign.

Past winners

2011 - King's Rose [1] 2010 - So You Think [2] 2009 - Mic Mac [3] 2008 - Weekend Hussler [4] 2007 - Miss Finland [5] 2006 - El Segundo 2005 - Makybe Diva 2004 - Regal Roller 2003 - Le Zagaletta 2002 - Magical Miss 2001 - Sunline 2000 - Sunline 1999 - Sir Boom 1998 - Dane Ripper 1997 - Tarnpir Lane 1996 - Sir Boom 1995 - Island Morn 1994 - Bundy Lad 1993 - Palace Reign 1992 - Naturalism 1991 - Redelva 1990 - The Phantom 1989 - Almurtajaz 1988 - Rancho Ruler 1987 - Rubiton 1986 - Dazzling Duke 1985 - Delightful Belle 1984 - King Delamere 1983 - Red Tempo 1982 - Manikato 1981 - Silver Bounty 1980 - Tolhurst 1979 - Arbre Chene 1978 - Crepellox 1977 - Wave King 1976 - Plush 1975 - Battle Sign 1974 - Nandalie Lass

1973 - Zambari 1972 - Longfella 1971 - Cyron 1970 - Ahjay 1969 - Fileur 1968 - Galilee 1967 - Grey Spirit 1966 - Yangtze 1965 - Yangtze 1964 - Future 1963 - Coppelius 1962 - Webster 1961 - Lord 1960 - Lord 1959 - Lord 1958 - Lord 1957 - Syntax 1956 - Rising Fast 1955 - Coppice 1954 - Coppice 1953 - Jovial Lad 1952 - Peshawar 1951 - Ellerslie 1950 - Comic Court 1949 - Comic Court 1948 - Lungi 1947 - Attley 1946 - Noble Prince 1945 - Tranquil Star 1944 - Lawrence 1943 - Sun Valley 1942 - David Innis 1941 - Lugano 1940 - Ajax 1939 - Ajax 1938 - Ajax 1937 - Black Mac 1936 - Charles Fox / Valiant Chief (dead heat)

1935 - Hall Mark 1934 - Waltzing Lily 1933 - Waltzing Lily 1932 - High Brae 1931 - Phar Lap 1930 - Wise Force 1929 - Highland 1928 - Gothic 1927 - Royal Charter 1926 - Heroic 1925 - Heroic 1924 - Englefield 1923 - Maid Of The Mist 1922 - Eurythmic 1921 - Eurythmic 1920 - Eurythmic 1919 - Artilleryman 1918 - Eusebius 1917 - Harriet Graham 1916 - Price Bardolph 1915 - Traquette 1914 - Aleconner 1913 - Uncle Sam 1912 - Captain White 1911 - Flaith 1910 - Blairgour 1909 - Knox 1908 - Pink ‘Un 1907 - Subterranean 1906 - Retrencher 1905 - Bobadil 1904 - Wingaroon 1903 - Billali 1902 - Seclusion 1901 - Hymettus 1900 - Eiridsdale / Massinissa (dead heat) 1899 - Veneda

See also

• List of Australian Group races

References

1. ^ 2011 result
2. ^ 2010 result
3. ^ 2009 result
4. ^ 2008 result
5. ^ 2007 result

• Australian Studbook - MRC Memsie Stakes Race Winners

Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memsie_Stakes"