(150) Melbourne Cup-G1

Flemington. November 6. $3,600,000. Open Hcp. 3200m.

1. ETHEREAL (NZ) (S Seamer 52) b m 4 Rhythm (USA) - Romanee Conti, by Sir Tristram (IRE). Trainer: Ms S Laxon.

2. Give the Slip (GB) (R Hills 55) b h 5 Slip Anchor - Falafil, by Fabulous Dancer.

3. Persian Punch (GB) (T Quinn 57.5) ch g 9 Persian Heights - Rum Cay, by Our Native.

3/4 len. 6 Len. 3m 21.08s. 22 strs.

ETHEREAL (NZ) (16)

Bay mare foaled 1997

Breeder: Messrs P J & P M Vela, NZ.

Owners: P J & P M Vela.
Click here for Tesio pedigree

Werk Nick Rating: A++

GP Inbreeding: Native Dancer 4m, 5f x.

Age	Starts	Wins	2nds	3rds
2	-	-	-	-
3	12	5	1	-
4	5	2	-	3
	17	7	1	3

Sire: RHYTHM (USA) - Bay 1987. Champion 2YO in USA; 6 wins, $1,592,532, Breeders' Cup Juvenile-G1, Brother to GET LUCKY, the dam of ACCELERATOR. From DANCE NUMBER (Beldame S-G1). Closely related to PRIVATE ACCOUNT, ASSATIS, NUMBERED ACCOUNT. To stud in Japan in 1992 and New Zealand in 1996. Shuttling to Cambridge Stud, NZ. Sire of 36 winners of $8.6 million inc SWs ETHEREAL, TAPILDO, MOOMTAZZ, I'VE GOT RHYTHM, GILLESPIE, LOTTA RHYTHM, SPs Paradiddle, Sakura Namiki O, Tenacious Bio, Tokai Punch, T M Aurora, Sams Tune, Mambo No Rhythm, Golden Rhythm, Purple Groove, also Rose Beat, Star of the Seas, Eagle Rhythm, Diamond Rhythm, Tap To It, Legacy Rock, etc.

Dam

ROMANEE CONTI (1988). 7 wins, $782,303, 1150m-1800m, Hong Kong International Cup-G3, STC Queen of the Turf S-G3, Rotorua Lion Brown S-G3, Masterton Lowland S-G3, AJC Emancipation S-LR, Waikato Westminster Sprint, Te Awamatu Hamilton Party Hire H, WRC Thorndon Mile-G1, AJC Surround S-G2, QTC Fosters Flying H-LR, 3d WRC Telegraph H-G1, STC Phar Lap S-G2, HBJC Gold Trail S-G3, STC Queen of the Turf S-G3, 4th AJC All Aged S-G1, CJC NZ 1000 Guineas-G1, Otaki Maori Terrace Regency S-G1. Three-quarter sister to GRAND ECHEZEAUX. Dam of 5 foals, 2 raced, both winners -

95 (Unnamed) b c by Marscay.

96 Romanee St Vivan, b f by Jetball (AUS). 2 wins at 1200m, 1350m; placed Pukekohe.

97 ETHEREAL (NZ). 7 wins, $4,060,106, 1200m-3200m, VRC Melbourne Cup-G1, VATC Caulfield Cup-G1, QTC Queensland Oaks-G1, BTC Doomben Roses S-LR, Counties Auckland TB Transport 1300, HBJC Hibernian Club Sprint, 3YO H, VATC Caulfield S-G1, Matamata Cup-LR.

99 (Unnamed) b c by Entrepreneur (GB).

00 (Unnamed) br c by Tale of the Cat (USA).

Not served 1997-98 season.

2nd Dam

RICHEBOURG. 5 wins at 1200m, 1400m, VATC Tranquil Star S-G3, How Now H, VRC Winslow H, MVRC Diners Club H, 2d VATC Doveton H-LR, 3d VRC Frances Tressady S-G3, VATC Barton H-LR. Dam of 8 foals, 7 raced, 5 winners -

ROMANEE CONTI. See above.

GRAND ECHEZEAUX, by Zabeel. 4 wins, $540,700, 1200m-2000m, SAJC Australasian Oaks-G1, Auraria S-G3, VRC Langton Lady Mayoress H, 2d VRC A V Kewney S-G2, MVRC Moonee Valley Oaks-G3, SAJC Widden Stud S-LR.

Summer Wine. 6 wins, 1200m-1600m, in Malaysia and Singapore, 3d Penang Yang di Pertua Negeri Gold Cup-LR.

Sir Rhine, by Sir Tristram (IRE). 1 win at 1400m, AJC Hyperion H, 4th AJC Australian Derby-G1.

3rd Dam

MARY MEAD. 2 wins at 6f. Dam of 5 named foals, all raced, 4 winners inc -

RICHEBOURG. See above.

DEMERARA. 6 wins, 1200m-2100m, Werribee Cup, Moe Cup, MVRC Grandstand H, 2d VATC Herbert Power H, 3d VATC Sandown Cup.

FEDERALISM. 3 wins, 1100m-1600m, VATC Mercedes-Benz H-LR, Welter H, 3d VATC Elders Mile-G1, IATC Eye Liner S-LR.

Norma Rae. 2 wins at 1000m, SAJC R H Jenkins H. Dam of -

IN MY VIEW. 5 wins, 800m-1200m, ARC Allegra Park Classic-LR, Avondale Juvenile S, Mad Hatters H, Renta-Mat Sprint S. Dam of -

STONY BAY. 13 wins, $1,525,795, 1000m-2400m, STC The BMW-G1, Ranvet S-G1, Hill S-G2, AJC Craven P-G3, Services Memorial Cup-LR, STC Christmas Cup-LR, Stayer's Cup-LR, Geelong Derby Trial S-LR, VATC Jameson Irish Whiskey H, STC Fine & Dandy Welter H, Pukekohe 2YO H, 2d AJC Warwick S-G2, STC W J McKell Cup-LR, Parramatta Cup-LR, 3d VRC Derby-G1, Tatts (NSW) Chelmsford S-G2, AJC Summer Cup-G3, Hawkesbury Gold Cup-G3, AJC Services Memorial Cup-LR, STC Winter Cup-LR, QTC Eagle Farm S-LR, QTC Eagle Farm S-LR, 4th AJC Summer Cup-G3, ARC Champagne S-G3.

Miss Pleasanton. Started twice. Producer. Grandam of -

MINIMAL. 2 wins, $124,580, at 1200m, 1400m, MVRC Leslie Froggatt S-LR, 2d VATC Merson Cooper S-G3, Debutant S-LR, 3d SAJC Smoke-Free S-G3, VRC Vichealth 1000-LR, 4th SAJC National S-G3.

Offwego. Placed. Dam of 5 winners inc -

ZAMOFF. 4 wins, $469,180, 1400m-2000m, QTC Sires' Produce S-G1, MVRC Herald Vase-G3, AJC Bill Kelso H, QTC John Power H, 2d VRC Victoria Derby-G1, VATC Caulfield Guineas-G1, STC Hill S-G2.

Audley Street. 4 wins to 1400m, STC Northern Suburbs H. Dam of-

Trader Vic. 4 wins, $153,556, AJC P H Osborne 2YO H, STC Light Quality H, Idle Words H, Speed Check H, 2d BTC Coca-Cola Classic-G3, 4th VATC Schillaci S-G3. Died at 3.

Standing Ovation. 4 wins to 1400m. Dam of -

Zastov, by Zabeel. 6 wins, 1200m-2000m, STC New Asia-Singapore Cup, 2d AJC Toy Show Quality H-LR, Sth Island 3YO Championship Final-LR, Southland Wickliffe Press S-LR, 3d AJC Epsom H-G1, Doncaster H-G1, Emancipation S-G2, STC Millie Fox S-LR, 4th AJC Emancipation S-G2, STC Shannon S-G3, CJC Warstep S-LR, Otago Breeders' S-LR, Ashburton Inglewood S-LR.

Wild Blue. Unraced. Dam of -

Wild Thunder. Won MVRC Magic 693 Football 2YO S, 3d VRC Edward Manifold S-G2. Dam of -

Mr Magistrate. 1 win at 1300m, 2d VRC Gibson Carmichael S-LR.

4th Dam

EASTER ROCK (GB). 3 wins in England. Sister to the grandam of GLEAMING WATERS, MR INDEPENDENT, VAIN MARCEAU, DUAL MARCEAU, and third dam of MR PRUDENT and ZAMINATION. Dam of 5 foals, all winners inc -

Cane. 4 wins at 6f, WRC Suburban H. Dam of -

TROCANE. 9 wins, $251,355, 1400m-2200m, Avondale Cup-G1, NZ T'bred Breeders' S-G2, 2d NZ T'bred Breeders' S-G2, 3d ARC Flag Inns Trophy-G2.

Chinkara. 13 wins, 1200m-2200m, WRC Wainui H, Waikato Miller H, HBJC Hastings Gold Cup, Manawatu Christmas H, Rotorua S E Carr Memorial H, Wairarapa Martinborough H, 3de Pahiatua WFA S-G3, 4th Waikato Cup-G3. Sire.

Bailiwick. 5 wins, $88,925, 1300m-1650m, MVRC Florsheim Sunset H, Djerriwarrah H, 2d VRC Bagot H-G3.l

Octane. 2 wins at 1200m. Dam of -

SHOCK ATTACK. 3 wins at 1200m, 1400m, Gore Princess Mellay S-LR.

Baloctane. 6 wins, 1200m-1400m, WATC Belele H, Graduation S, twice. Dam of -

REGAL SHOT. 5 wins, $259,050, at 1000m, VATC Sir John Monash S-LR, Monash Alumni 2YO P, Slickpix P, Procol Harum H, Crewman H.

Racane. Unraced. 5 wins, Unraced. Dam of -

WAVERTREE. 5 wins, $157,350, 1000m-1400m, VATC Sandown Cup-G3, AJC Victory Lad H, Pagewood H, STC Northern Dancer H, 2d VRC Chivas Regal S-G3, 3d STC Festival H-LR, 4th VRC Rupert Steele S-G3.

Sheila Laxon became the first woman to officially prepare a Melbourne Cup winner. The Cambridge horsewoman's now Singapore-based husband Laurie had also been there, after Empire Rose's 1988 win. Ethereal is the 11th to win the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups in the one year, the third female after Rivette (at six) and the second four-year-old female, the other Let's Elope. The first Mr. Prospector-line winner gave Laxon and Scott Seamer the Cup at their first attempt, Seamer first partnering Ethereal in the Doomben Roses-LR. In the Cup they were trapped wide with cover in ninth place. He edged forward out wide near the turn, then waited until the 300m before pressing the button. Ethereal collared the Godolphin horse 25m out. As his sire Slip Anchor did famously in a Derby, Give the Slip attempted to lead throughout. Richard Hills dashed him away 600m out, but stayed near the rail, avoided by most in 10 races. The 3:21.08 was almost five seconds outside Kingston Rule's record, but the dead track accounted for most of that, Give the Slip's pace as genuine as he is. Persian Punch was of one of the best thirds in 141 Cups after covering a lot of extra ground, Richard Quinn following the instructions of those who know that horse best to the letter. Eighth early, the nine-year-old (he's actually nine on April 13, 2002) English cult hero was third and still wide 1200m out and second into the straight. He rallied several times after Give the Slip raced away. For more on Ethereal see Caulfield Cup. Skybeau didn't make his sixth Cup, withdrawn a week before the race with a virus.