Memsie Stakes
Encyclopedia
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.
Group races
Group races are the highest standard of Thoroughbred horseraces in Australia. The Australian Pattern Committee recommends to the Australian Racing Board which races shall be designated as Group races...
weight-for-age Thoroughbred horse race run at Caulfield Racecourse
Caulfield Racecourse
Caulfield Racecourse is one of Melbourne, Australia's best-known horse-racing tracks. Commonly known as "The Heath" by local racegoers, it is located eight kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs...
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
Melbourne Racing Club
The Melbourne Racing Club is one of three metropolitan horse racing clubs in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It began life as the Victoria Amateur Turf Club in 1875 with Mr. E.C. Moore as the Club's first Secretary. The Dowling Forest Racecourse in Ballarat was the location for the first VATC race...
.
The race is often used as a lead-up race by good horses preparing for the longer feature races such as the Caulfield Cup
Caulfield Cup
The Caulfield Cup, one of Australia's richest Thoroughbred horse races and the richest of its type in the world is held annually by the Melbourne Racing Club. The race is a handicap like the Melbourne Cup, which means that horses that compete in the Caulfield Cup are capable of running on the...
. Cox Plate
Cox Plate
The W.S. Cox Plate is an Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne every October by the Moonee Valley Racing Club to honour W.S. Cox, the club's founder. For three-year-olds and over, the race is considered to be the Weight for Age championship of Australasia...
and Melbourne Cup
Melbourne Cup
The Melbourne Cup is Australia's major Thoroughbred horse race. Marketed as "the race that stops a nation", it is a 3,200 metre race for three-year-olds and over. It is the richest "two-mile" handicap in the world, and one of the richest turf races...
. 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
J J Liston Stakes
The P B Lawrence Stakes is a Group 2 Australian thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged 3 years old and upwards, over a distance of 1400m. It is held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne....
, 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
Phar Lap
Phar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in New Zealand, he was trained and raced in Australia. Phar Lap dominated Australian racing during a distinguished career, winning a Melbourne...
, Rising Fast
Rising Fast
Rising Fast was an outstanding New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. In 1954 he became the only horse in history to win the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate races in the same season - the Spring Grand Slam - and since that time no Melbourne Cup winner has performed such a feat...
, Comic Court
Comic Court
Comic Court was a most versatile post-war Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlongs and 2 miles...
, Galilee
Galilee (horse)
Galilee, was a bay Thoroughbred gelding who was foaled in 1963 at Trelawney Stud, Cambridge, New Zealand. He later became one of the most successful racehorses in Australia. Galilee was sired by the very good racehorse and sire, Alcimedes*, from the mare Galston by Balloch*...
, Ajax, Lord
Lord (horse)
Lord was a New Zealand-born Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in Australia. He was a bay gelding by Targui out of Broadway , by Actor . Lord is remembered for his 1960 Victoria Racing Club Queen's Plate effort in which he nearly defeated the champion Tulloch, who was returning after...
and Manikato
Manikato
Manikato was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He established new track records in three races and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame...
.
In 2004, Regal Roller, a front-running sprinter and a Caulfield track specialist, stole the race from the front.
In 2005, Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva
Makybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
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
El Segundo (horse)
El Segundo is a Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a bay son of Pins from the mare Palos Verdes by Flying Spur.Foaled in 2001 at Ancroft Stud, Matamata, New Zealand he was sold as a yearling for $140,000 and has spent his entire racing career in Australia under the care of trainer Colin Little.Amongst...
was an impressive winner. He went on to win the Underwood Stakes
Underwood Stakes
The Underwood Stakes is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race, held at Caulfield Racecourse in Melbourne Australia. It is run over 1800 metres under weight-for-age conditions in late September each year...
and record placings in the Caulfield Stakes
Caulfield Stakes
The VATC Caulfield Stakes is now a Melbourne Racing Club Australian Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race run under weight-for-age conditions, for three-year-olds and upwards, at Caulfield Racecourse. The race was previously known as the Caulfield Stakes but since 1997 it has been referred to as the...
and Cox Plate later in his campaign.
Past winners
- 2011 - King's Rose
- 2010 - So You ThinkSo You ThinkSo You Think is a New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse, now majority owned by Coolmore Stud of Ireland. So You Think came to prominence through winning the 2009 and 2010 Cox Plates, Australia's premier weight for age race. His second Cox Plate win came at just his tenth career start...
- 2009 - Mic Mac
- 2008 - Weekend HusslerWeekend HusslerWeekend Hussler is a retired Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a bay gelding by Hussonet out of Weekend Beauty . He is currently a six-year-old. Hussonet had been a very successful sire in Chile for Haras de Pirque where he stood for the largest fee of any stallion in the history of...
- 2007 - Miss FinlandMiss Finland (horse)Miss Finland is a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse, trained by top South Australian trainer David Hayes. At two years old, she won the AAMI Golden Slipper, the world's richest juvenile race, which is run over 1,200 metres, and ran second in the Blue Diamond Stakes...
- 2006 - El SegundoEl Segundo (horse)El Segundo is a Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a bay son of Pins from the mare Palos Verdes by Flying Spur.Foaled in 2001 at Ancroft Stud, Matamata, New Zealand he was sold as a yearling for $140,000 and has spent his entire racing career in Australia under the care of trainer Colin Little.Amongst...
- 2005 - Makybe DivaMakybe DivaMakybe Diva is a British-bred, Australian-trained Thoroughbred who became the first racehorse to win the famed Melbourne Cup on three occasions: 2003, 2004, and 2005. In 2005, she also won the Cox Plate. Makybe Diva is the highest stakes-earner in Australasian horse racing history, with winnings...
- 2004 - Regal Roller
- 2003 - Le Zagaletta
- 2002 - Magical Miss
- 2001 - SunlineSunlineSunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive...
- 2000 - SunlineSunlineSunline was a New Zealand bred Thoroughbred racehorse who was the world's highest earning racemare of her time, competing on 48 occasions for 32 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds to earn A$11,351,607. She won races in three different countries, Australia, New Zealand and Hong Kong. She won successive...
- 1999 - Sir Boom
- 1998 - Dane Ripper
- 1997 - Tarnpir Lane
- 1996 - Sir Boom
- 1995 - Island Morn
- 1994 - Bundy Lad
- 1993 - Palace Reign
- 1992 - NaturalismNaturalism (horse)Naturalism Naturalism Naturalism (foaled 1988 in New Zealand was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse whose wins included three Group One races. Out of the mare Zephyr Souba, he was sired by the Kentucky-born Palace Music who also sired the great United States Hall Racing of Fame inductee, Cigar...
- 1991 - RedelvaRedelvaRedelva was a notable Australian thoroughbred racehorse.A chestnut son of Romantic Hope from the mare Delvena, he was foaled in 1983 and was trained throughout his career by Greg Varcoe....
- 1990 - The PhantomThe Phantom (horse)The Phantom was a Group One winning New Zealand Thoroughbred racehorse who made several trips to Australia, and completed a remarkable comeback later in his career. From three to five, The Phantom's highlights included wins in the Memsie and the Underwood Stakes, and he was third in the 1989...
- 1989 - Almurtajaz
- 1988 - Rancho Ruler
- 1987 - RubitonRubitonRubiton was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the mid-1980s.He was bred by the Oamaru Stud in Victoria...
- 1986 - Dazzling Duke
- 1985 - Delightful Belle
- 1984 - King Delamere
- 1983 - Red Tempo
- 1982 - ManikatoManikatoManikato was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He established new track records in three races and was inducted into the Australian Racing Hall of Fame...
- 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 - GalileeGalilee (horse)Galilee, was a bay Thoroughbred gelding who was foaled in 1963 at Trelawney Stud, Cambridge, New Zealand. He later became one of the most successful racehorses in Australia. Galilee was sired by the very good racehorse and sire, Alcimedes*, from the mare Galston by Balloch*...
- 1967 - Grey Spirit
- 1966 - Yangtze
- 1965 - Yangtze
- 1964 - Future
- 1963 - Coppelius
- 1962 - Webster
- 1961 - LordLord (horse)Lord was a New Zealand-born Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in Australia. He was a bay gelding by Targui out of Broadway , by Actor . Lord is remembered for his 1960 Victoria Racing Club Queen's Plate effort in which he nearly defeated the champion Tulloch, who was returning after...
- 1960 - LordLord (horse)Lord was a New Zealand-born Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in Australia. He was a bay gelding by Targui out of Broadway , by Actor . Lord is remembered for his 1960 Victoria Racing Club Queen's Plate effort in which he nearly defeated the champion Tulloch, who was returning after...
- 1959 - LordLord (horse)Lord was a New Zealand-born Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in Australia. He was a bay gelding by Targui out of Broadway , by Actor . Lord is remembered for his 1960 Victoria Racing Club Queen's Plate effort in which he nearly defeated the champion Tulloch, who was returning after...
- 1958 - LordLord (horse)Lord was a New Zealand-born Thoroughbred racehorse who raced successfully in Australia. He was a bay gelding by Targui out of Broadway , by Actor . Lord is remembered for his 1960 Victoria Racing Club Queen's Plate effort in which he nearly defeated the champion Tulloch, who was returning after...
- 1957 - Syntax
- 1956 - Rising FastRising FastRising Fast was an outstanding New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse. In 1954 he became the only horse in history to win the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate races in the same season - the Spring Grand Slam - and since that time no Melbourne Cup winner has performed such a feat...
- 1955 - Coppice
- 1954 - Coppice
- 1953 - Jovial Lad
- 1952 - Peshawar
- 1951 - Ellerslie
- 1950 - Comic CourtComic CourtComic Court was a most versatile post-war Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlongs and 2 miles...
- 1949 - Comic CourtComic CourtComic Court was a most versatile post-war Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlongs and 2 miles...
- 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 LapPhar LapPhar Lap was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse whose achievements captured the public's imagination during the early years of the Great Depression. Foaled in New Zealand, he was trained and raced in Australia. Phar Lap dominated Australian racing during a distinguished career, winning a Melbourne...
- 1930 - Wise Force
- 1929 - Highland
- 1928 - Gothic
- 1927 - Royal Charter
- 1926 - HeroicHeroic (horse)Heroic was a great Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won 21 races from 5 furlongs to 2 miles and was a Leading sire in Australia.-Breeding:...
- 1925 - HeroicHeroic (horse)Heroic was a great Australian Thoroughbred racehorse who won 21 races from 5 furlongs to 2 miles and was a Leading sire in Australia.-Breeding:...
- 1924 - Englefield
- 1923 - Maid Of The Mist
- 1922 - EurythmicEurythmic (horse)Eurythmic was a versatile Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who had the ability to produce a brilliant finishing run in staying races and he also won important sprint races, too. At four he won 12 of his 13 starts including the Caulfield Cup and Sydney Cup. When Eurythmic finished racing he...
- 1921 - EurythmicEurythmic (horse)Eurythmic was a versatile Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who had the ability to produce a brilliant finishing run in staying races and he also won important sprint races, too. At four he won 12 of his 13 starts including the Caulfield Cup and Sydney Cup. When Eurythmic finished racing he...
- 1920 - EurythmicEurythmic (horse)Eurythmic was a versatile Australian-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who had the ability to produce a brilliant finishing run in staying races and he also won important sprint races, too. At four he won 12 of his 13 starts including the Caulfield Cup and Sydney Cup. When Eurythmic finished racing he...
- 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