Platinum Witness Crowned NZB Filly of the Year

Saturday’s second placing by Platinum Witness (California Dane) in the Group 1 $300,000 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham was enough for her to be crowned  New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year for this season.

Platinum Witness winning the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas. Photo courtesy of Race Images Chch.

Platinum Witness concluded the 10-race Series with the most points collected, 29.5 points. Saavoya (NZ) (Savabeel), a strong contender throughout the Series, finished second on 23 points and the winner of the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks, Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel), finished third on 16.5 points in the Series.

Trained by Lisa Latta, Platinum Witness finished second behind Savaria on Saturday in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks, after winning three races in the Series.

Platinum Witness won the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas in November, the second leg of the Series, before wins in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes and the Group 3 Lowland Stakes this year, dead heating with Savaria in the latter of those races.

“It was fantastic to win the Filly Series,” commented Latta. “It’s great for the owners, John Street and Neville McAlister, they put a lot into racing.

“Winning the Series puts a lot of value on her later on as a broodmare.

“She will go to the paddock now for three weeks and then we will get her ready for the Queensland Oaks.”

Platinum Witness enjoyed further success on Saturday, with her second placing in the Group 1 feature enough to claim the inaugural Wellfield Lodge Triple Crown Series.

With already three points in the Wellfield Lodge Triple Crown Series, thanks to her win in the Group 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes, she earned a further 4 points on Saturday to total a Series best 7 points.

As the leading filly of the Triple Crown Series, John Street of Lincoln Farms and Neville McAlister, owners of Platinum Witness, have received a service to Wellfield Lodge’s resident stallion Alamosa.

The California Dane filly has earned $387,775 in winnings for owners Street & McAlister with four wins from 14 starts to date.

Lisa Latta purchased Platinum Witness at the 2013 Karaka Select Yearling Sale for $55,000 from Monovale Farm.

Bred by Monovale Holdings, the three-year-old filly is out of multiple stakes winning mare Chartreuse (St Petersburg), who is a half-sister to the dam of multiple stakes winner Zennista (Zenno Rob Roy), winner of the Group 3 Sofitel Luxury Hotels Stakes twice.