MELBOURNE’s first Group 1 of the new racing season was heralded in by the 1,400 metre Memsie Stakes at Caulfield whose purse has been doubled to A$1 million.

The former Perth galloper Vega Magic was the favourite and subsequently remained undefeated for Team Hayes who can claim two Group 1s from three starts since inheriting the five-year-old Loup De Vega gelding, a winner now of 12 from 17.