This awesome kiwi mare first burst on the scene in Queensland during the 2001 Winter Carnival with a win in the Doomben Roses before backing up and producing a barnstorming performance to come from near last and win the Queensland Oaks. Trainer Sheila Laxon immediately tipped out her charge and had a couple of rich handicaps in mind.
The Spring of 2001 started off well, with placings in the Lion Red Stakes, Matamata Cup and Yalumba Stakes ensuring her start a 10/1 chance to win the Caulfield Cup. The mare dashed around the outside, sprinted clear and showed great courage to hold off the gallant Sky Heights, whose ride Damien Oliver then fired in a protest, which was unsuccessful. Now it was onwards and upwards towards Flemington.
She was aiming to become the 11th horse to complete the Caulfield Cup/Melbourne Cup double. But her finish in the Caulfield Cup left punters concerned and was therefore sent out again as a 10/1 chance. In the run, jockey Scott Seamer gave the mare a perfect sit and appeared to be travelling beautifully. She needed to be because on the home turn, the international stayer Give The Slip did exactly that by hugging the fence and dashing clear. But it had been raining that day, so the fence would have been a touch slower…cue the kiwi mare.
300m out and Give The Slip had at least five, maybe six lengths on Ethereal. But the kiwi star was in the better going and under the urgings of Seamer the daughter Rhythm mowed down Give The Slip to win by nearly a length. She became the 11th horse to do the cups double and Sheila Laxon created history by becoming the first female trainer to win the race that stops a nation. Fabulous ride, fabulous trainer, wonderful horse, wonderful win.
