Southern Fillies Line Up to Battle the Series Finale

The final leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year Series will be held at Riccarton this Saturday with the running of the Listed $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m).

A field of 10 fillies will step up to 2000m in search of points upon the conclusion of the Series for the 2014-15 season.

At the top of the book is Belle Miraaj (NZ) (Iffraaj), who is backing up after running third in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes last weekend, for trainer Gay Robinson. The winner of two stakes races, the Listed Gore Guineas and the Listed Southland Guineas, the daughter of Iffraaj will have her eleventh start from barrier 8.

Looking to retain her lead in the Series is Consensus (NZ) (Postponed). Trained by Terri Rae, Consensus won the third leg of the Series last weekend at Riccarton, taking her first stakes win with three wins in total. Samantha Collett takes her first ride on the Postponed filly, starting from barrier 5.

A winner of one race, No Tricks (NZ) (Savabeel) will be looking to go one better after finishing second behind race rival Consensus last weekend. By leading sire Savabeel, No Tricks will have her first start beyond 1600m with David Walsh riding from barrier 1 for trainer Jason Bridgman.

Group 3 winner Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) is the winner of two races including the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes in December. She is also backing up from last weekend’s race and will start from barrier 10 for trainer Robert Patterson.

The Kevin Myers trained Epineaux (NZ) (Thorn Park) is yet to race in the Series. The Thorn Park filly won her last two starts, over 1800m and 2200m, after breaking her maiden status just two starts prior. Epineaux will have her eleventh start from barrier 4 with apprentice rider Racha Cuneen.

The second runner from the Myers stable is Gold Allure (NZ) (Sakhee’s Secret), who won the first two starts of her career. With six race day appearances, she will have her first start over 2000m from barrier 7, ridden by Shankar Muniandy.

A winner two starts ago, Platinum Command (NZ) (Red Giant) tallies two wins and four placings since debuting as a three-year-old. Kylie Williams takes the ride and will be starting from barrier 3 for trainer Lisa Latta.

Making the long trip from Ruakaka is Savannah Somoya (NZ) (Keeper), who will have her first start in the South Island for trainers Kenny and Lisa Rae. Breaking her maiden status just three starts ago, she finished fourth at Ellerslie at her last start almost two weeks ago. She will start from barrier 2 with Terry Moseley riding.

The final two runners in the field both carry the silks of Michael and Matthew Pitman’s stable, So Vital (NZ) (Pentire) and Miss Fortune (NZ) (Edenwold). So Vital entered the winners circle for the first time two weeks ago after placing eight times in her career. The Pentire filly will step up to 2000m for the first time, starting from barrier 9.

Rounding out the field is Miss Fortune who enters the race as a maiden. The daughter of South Island sire Edenwold ran a third place at her last start behind stablemate So Vital. Miss Fortune will take her place in the field from barrier 6.

The winner of the Listed NZB Warstep Stakes collects 7 points in the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series with second place earning 3 points and third place receiving 1 point.

To view the full field, click here.

At the top of the Leaderboard is Consensus on 10 points followed by Darci’s Dream (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Miss Seton Sands (NZ) (Gonski) in second equal with 7 points each and third is No Tricks and Starlight Angel (NZ) (Swiss Ace) with 3 points each.

For more information on New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year Series or to view the Leaderboard, click here.