The Bletchingly Stakes is a 1200 weight-for-age race usually held in late July or early August at Caulfield racecourse in Melbourne. Run over a distance of 1200 metres and worth $125,000 in prizemoney, the 2011 Bletchingly Stakes was won by Mid Summer Music from Rue Maple with Stanzout third.
Typically the first group race of the new racing season in Victoria, the Bletchingly Stakes has proven to be the last group race of the season in the past couple of years due to the new season commencing earlier in the week than usual.
The Bletchingly Stakes is a good race to kick off a spring campaign for many horses. It's a race that can be taken out first-up by a quality galloper returning from a spell or a good winter horse with fitness on its side. The level weights conditions of the race means that quite often the best horse in the race will be successful.
Winners and placegetters of this race tend to head towards the JJ Liston Stakes and Memsie Stakes over the next month, which are both weight-for-age events with increased distance that suits many horses heading towards longer spring races. Shoot Out (2010) went on to win the JJ Liston Stakes after winning this race.
High quality gallopers who take out this race may dominate the early weight-for-age races of the new season, such as the Liston Stakes and Memsie Stakes, as they are simply too classy for their rivals. Some handy types have won the Bletchingly Stakes over the years, including champion sprinter Apache Cat (2007), Regal Roller (2005) and Dandy Kid (2000).
Mid Summer Music (2011) ran second in the All Victorian Sprint down the Flemington 1200m straight on her way to winning this event and recent Bletchingly Stakes winners have been Shoot Out (2010) and Let Go Thommo (2009).
Spring Carnival Guide
Mid Summer Music (2011) went on to win the Gr3 Cockram Stakes for fillies & mares over 1200m at Caulfield at here next start.
Apache Cat (2007) backed up two weeks later to win the Liston Stakes before running 2nd in the Makybe Diva Stakes while Haradusun (2nd in 2007) had a solid same spring with placings in the Memsie Stakes, and Gr1 races the Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes, Turnbull Stakes, and WS Cox Plate.
In recent times the Bletchingly Stakes winner has just been an above average galloper who has not done too much throughout the spring, apart from the classy Apache Cat.
2011 Bletchingly Stakes result
1. $1.75 Mid Summer Music 56.5 L Nolen
2. $8.50 Rue Maple 56.5 Ms M Payne
3. $17.00 Stanzout 58.5 D Dunn 3.
then followed
4. $10.00 Dusty Star 58 C Williams
5. $9.00 Gold Trail 58.5 M Rodd
6. $26.00 Lady Mahler 56.5 C Newitt
7. $6.50 Second Effort 58.5 D Nikolic
8. $81.00 Delayedreaction 58.5 S King
Margins: Short head, 2 len Time: 1:11.40
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