The Memsie Stakes is a

Melbourne Racing Club The Melbourne Racing Club (MRC) 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 Race ...

Group 1 Group 1 may refer to: * Alkali metal, a chemical element classification for Alkali metal * Group 1 (racing), a historic (until 1981) classification for Touring car racing, applied to standard touring cars. Comparable to modern FIA Group N * Group On ...

Thoroughbred The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word ''thoroughbred'' is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed. Thoroughbreds are c ...

horse race Horse racing is an equestrian performance sport, typically involving two or more horses ridden by jockeys (or sometimes driven without riders) over a set distance for competition. It is one of the most ancient of all sports, as its basic p ...

held under

weight for age {{use dmy dates, date=October 2022 Weight for Age (WFA) is a term in thoroughbred horse racing which is one of the conditions for a race. History The principle of WFA was developed by Admiral Rous, a handicapper with the English Jockey Club. Rou ...

conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1400 metres. It is held at

Caulfield Racecourse Caulfield Racecourse Reserve is located nine kilometres from the Melbourne CBD, on the boundary of Caulfield and Caulfield East in Melbourne's south eastern suburbs. The Reserve was set aside for three purposes, racing, recreation and a publi ...

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

as a lead in to the

Spring Racing Carnival The Spring Racing Carnival is the name of an Australian Thoroughbred horse racing series held annually in Melbourne during October and November. The Carnival and its status in the wider community Although racing in Australia is held every day exc ...

. Total prize money for the race is A$1,000,000.

History

The race is often used as a lead-up race by good horses preparing for the longer feature races such as the

Caulfield Cup The Caulfield Cup is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race held under handicap conditions, although the Melbourne Racing Club is in the process of turning the race into weight for age (WFA) conditions. This is for all horses ...

Cox Plate The W. S. Cox Plate is a Group 1 Thoroughbred horse race for horses aged three years old and over under Weight for age conditions, over a distance of 2040 metres (approximately 1m 2f), that is held by the Moonee Valley Racing Club at Moo ...

and

Melbourne Cup The Melbourne Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held in Melbourne, Australia. It is a 3200-metre race for three-year-olds and over, conducted by the Victoria Racing Club on the Flemington Racecourse in Melbourne, Victoria as part of the Melbou ...

. 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

P B Lawrence Stakes The P B Lawrence Stakes, registered as the J J Liston Stakes, is a Melbourne Racing Club Group 2 Thoroughbred horse race held under weight for age conditions, for horses aged three years old and upwards, over a distance of 1400 metres, held at C ...

, another 1,400 metre weight-for-age race run at Caulfield usually earlier in August except that this is the first Group 1 in the racing season in Victoria. The list of previous winners of the race contain recent champions, including Sincero,

So You Think So You Think (foaled 10 November 2006) 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 ag ...

Weekend Hussler Weekend Hussler is a retired Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. He is a bay gelding by Hussonet out of Weekend Beauty (by Helissio). He was foaled in 2004. Hussonet had been a very successful sire in Chile for Haras de Pirque where he stood ...

, Makybe Diva, Sunline, Naturalism, Rancho Ruler,

Manikato Manikato (1975–1984) 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. Manikato was the second Australi ...

, and famous champions from the 20th century

Galilee Galilee (; he, הַגָּלִיל, hagGālīl; ar, الجليل, al-jalīl) is a region located in northern Israel and southern Lebanon. Galilee traditionally refers to the mountainous part, divided into Upper Galilee (, ; , ) and Lower Galil ...

Rising Fast Rising Fast (1949 - 1978) was a champion New Zealand-bred Thoroughbred racehorse who is the only horse to complete the Spring Grand Slam, winning the Melbourne Cup, Caulfield Cup, and Cox Plate in 1954. He also won the 1955 Caulfield Cup and c ...

Comic Court Comic Court (1945–1973) was a most versatile post-war Australian bred Thoroughbred racehorse who set race records at distances of 6 furlongs (1,200 metres) and 2 miles (3,200 metres). He won the 1950 Melbourne Cup carrying and set an Australa ...

Lord Lord is an appellation for a person or deity who has authority, control, or power over others, acting as a master, chief, or ruler. The appellation can also denote certain persons who hold a title of the peerage in the United Kingdom, or ar ...

(four times),

Ajax Ajax may refer to: Greek mythology and tragedy * Ajax the Great, a Greek mythological hero, son of King Telamon and Periboea * Ajax the Lesser, a Greek mythological hero, son of Oileus, the king of Locris * ''Ajax'' (play), by the ancient Greek ...

(three times) and

Phar Lap Phar Lap (4 October 1926 – 5 April 1932) was a champion New Zealand–bred Thoroughbred racehorse who is widely regarded as New Zealand's greatest racehorse ever. Achieving incredible success during his distinguished career, his initial ...

Tranquil Star 1946 Olympic Park Melbourne Farewell Jockey Scobie Breasley Trainer Ron Cameron

Uncle Sam 1914 VATC Caulfield Cup Jockey J E Ettershank Trainer M P Whitty

Gothic 1928 VATC Caulfield Stakes Jockey Jim Pike Trainer Lou Robertson

Distance

*1899 -1 mile (~ 1600m) *1900–1980 - 1 miles (~ 1800m) *1971 - 1 mile (~ 1600m) *1972–1979 – 1600 metres *1980 onwards - 1400 metres

Grade

*1899–1978 - Principal Race *1979–2012 - Group 2 *2013 onwards Group 1

Venue

* 1899 - 1983 -

* 1984 -

Sandown Racecourse Sandown Racecourse (also known as Ladbrokes Park due to naming rights) is a Thoroughbred horse racing race track administered by the Melbourne Racing Club in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. It is situated 25 kilometres south-east of the Melbour ...

* 1985–present - Caulfield Racecourse

1951 & 1954 Racebooks

File:1951 VATC Memsie Stakes Racebook P1.jpg, Front cover of the 1951 Memsie Stakes racebook File:1951 VATC Memsie Stakes Racebook P2.jpg, 1952 Memsie Stakes showing raceday officials. File:1951 VATC Memsie Stakes Racebook P3.jpg, Starters and results showing the winner, Ellerslie. File:1951 VATC Memsie Stakes Racebook P4.jpg, Back cover showing Railway & Entrance charges. File:1954 VATC Memsie Stakes Racebook P1.jpg, Front cover of the 1954 Memsie Stakes Racebook. File:1954 VATC Memsie Stakes Racebook P2.jpg, Starters and results showing the winner, Coppice. File:1954 VATC Memsie Stakes Racebook P3.jpg, Back cover showing Railway & Entrance charges.

Winners

* 2022 - Snapdancer * 2021 - Behemoth * 2020 - Behemoth * 2019 - Scales of Justice * 2018 - Humidor * 2017 - Vega Magic * 2016 -

Black Heart Bart Black Heart Bart (foaled 11 September 2010) is a retired six-time Group 1 winning Australian bred thoroughbred racehorse. Background Black Heart Bart was purchased by senior part owner Kim Renner for $20,000 at the 2012 Magic Millions Perth Yea ...

* 2015 - Boban * 2014 - Dissident * 2013 -

Atlantic Jewel Atlantic Jewel (26 September 2008 – 20 August 2020) was an Australian Thoroughbred racehorse. Sired by champion sire Fastnet Rock, and raced by Coolmore, Atlantic Jewel was trained by Melbourne's Mark Kavanagh. She won 10 of her 11 starts, i ...

* 2012 - Sincero * 2011 - King's Rose * 2010 -

* 2009 - Mic Mac * 2008 -

* 2007 -

Miss Finland Miss Suomi ( Finnish for ''Miss Finland'') is a national beauty pageant in Finland. The pageant was founded in 1931, where the winners were sent to Miss Universe. History Miss Suomi was held for the first time in 1931. Between 1952 and 1955 t ...

* 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 Dane Ripper is an Australian Thoroughbred race horse. Trained by Bart Cummings, she is best known for her win in the 1997 Cox Plate when ridden by Damien Oliver. See also * List of millionaire racehorses in Australia Top prize money earners ...

* 1997 - Tarnpir Lane * 1996 - Sir Boom * 1995 - Island Morn * 1994 - Bundy Lad * 1993 - Palace Reign * 1992 - Naturalism * 1991 -

Redelva Redelva 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. Redelva competed primarily in sprint races winning up to ...

* 1990 -

The Phantom ''The Phantom'' is an American adventure comic strip, first published by Lee Falk in February 1936. The main character, the Phantom, is a fictional costumed crime-fighter who operates from the fictional African country of Bangalla. The charact ...

* 1989 - Almurtajaz * 1988 - Rancho Ruler * 1987 -

Rubiton Rubiton (18 October 1983 – 25 November 2005) was a champion Australian Thoroughbred racehorse of the mid-1980s. He was bred by the Oamaru Stud in Victoria. Rubiton's name was a combination of "Ruby" and "ton", a colloquial term for 100 runs ...

* 1986 - Dazzling Duke * 1985 - Delightful Belle * 1984 - King Delamere * 1983 - Red Tempo * 1982 -

* 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 -

* 1967 - Grey Spirit * 1966 - Yangtze * 1965 - Yangtze * 1964 - Future * 1963 - Coppelius * 1962 - Webster * 1961 -

* 1960 -

* 1959 -

* 1958 -

* 1957 - Syntax * 1956 -

* 1955 - Coppice * 1954 - Coppice * 1953 - Jovial Lad * 1952 - Peshawar * 1951 - Ellerslie * 1950 -

* 1949 -

* 1948 - Lungi * 1947 - Attley * 1946 - Noble Prince * 1945 -

Tranquil Star Tranquil Star (foaled in 1937) was one of the hardiest and best performed Australian-bred Thoroughbred race-mares. She is the only mare to have won the double of the Caulfield Stakes, now known as the Yalumba Stakes, and the Cox Plate, which is ...

* 1944 - Lawrence * 1943 - Sun Valley * 1942 - David Innis * 1941 - Lugano * 1940 -

* 1939 -

* 1938 -

* 1937 - Black Mac * 1936 - †Charles Fox / Valiant Chief * 1935 -

Hall Mark A hallmark is an official mark or series of marks struck on items made of metal, mostly to certify the content of noble metals—such as platinum, gold, silver and in some nations, palladium. In a more general sense, the term ''hallmark'' can als ...

* 1934 - Waltzing Lily * 1933 - Waltzing Lily * 1932 - High Brae * 1931 -

* 1930 - Wise Force * 1929 - Highland * 1928 -

Gothic Gothic or Gothics may refer to: People and languages *Goths or Gothic people, the ethnonym of a group of East Germanic tribes **Gothic language, an extinct East Germanic language spoken by the Goths **Crimean Gothic, the Gothic language spoken b ...

* 1927 - Royal Charter * 1926 -

Heroic Heroic may mean: *characteristic of a hero *typical of heroic poetry or of heroic verse *belonging to the Greek Heroic Age *Heroic (esports), a Danish esports organization *Heroic (horse) Heroic (1921–1939) was an Australian Thoroughbred ra ...

* 1925 -

* 1924 - Englefield * 1923 - Maid Of The Mist * 1922 - Eurythmic * 1921 - Eurythmic * 1920 - Eurythmic * 1919 -

Artilleryman Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, ...

* 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 * 1899 - Veneda † Dead heat

References

{{reflist, 2 Caulfield Racecourse Group 1 stakes races in Australia