THE GROUP ONE MEMSIE STAKES
Caulfield, 1400m, weight-for-age
HISTORY: First run in 1899 at one mile (1600m) and won by Veneda. 1900-1970 run over nine furlongs (1800m). 1971-79 run over 1600m shortening to 1400m since and given Group One status in 2013. In 2017 given a significant prize money increase to $1 million
NOTABLE WINNERS at 1400m: Manikato (1982); Rubiton (1987); Dane Ripper (1998); Sunline (2000,01); Makybe Diva (2005); So You Think (2010); Atlantic Jewel (2013)
TALKING POINTS:
* Makybe Diva won in 2005 and four starts later won her third Melbourne Cup
* Vega Magic will be striving to become the first horse since Sunline in 2001 to win the race back-to-back
* The field of 11 includes six individual Group One winners
* Darren Weir has three runners, including Black Heart Bart, Humidor and Caulfield Cup favourite Kings Will Dream with Mick Price saddling Grunt and Oregon’s Day
WHAT THE MAIN PLAYERS ARE SAYING:
“I think he’s very similar to last year, if not better. His form, you won’t get better than the other day, the way he won. And nothing has gone wrong since” – Vega Magic’s co-trainer David Hayes
“He absolutely flew in a gallop on Tuesday,” – Kementari’s trainer James Cummings
“I ran him in the Orr and he got beaten just over a length, and was getting held up. So he’s worth another chance” – Dollar For Dollar’s trainer Tony McEvoy
“I think he’s nice and fresh and I’m allowing this 1400-metre race to bring him on for the Makybe Diva” – Grunt’s trainer Mick Price
“It’s a Group One race worth a million bucks, they don’t give them away and he’s going to have to earn it” – Showtime’s co-trainer Wayne Hawkes
