Dijon Bleu (NZ) Takes First Points in Filly of the Year Series

Awapuni trainer Lisa Latta won the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title three years ago with Platinum Witness (California Dane), and she has taken the early lead in the 2017-18 edition after improving filly Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy) ran away with the first leg, the $70,000 Group 3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings on Saturday.

A last-start winner of the Listed Fillies’ Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui just 10 days earlier, Dijon Bleu backed up against a stronger field and was even more impressive. Ridden for the first time by Vinnie Colgan, she stormed home down the straight to reel in the leader Florence Jean (NZ) (Pins) and score by a widening margin of a length and three-quarters. Princess Rihanna (NZ) (Showcasing) made ground late to finish third.

Dijon Bleu had three starts as a two-year-old for a win and two unplaced finishes. She has returned this season a completely different horse, finishing third first-up at Taupo before her spectacular black-type double. She has now earned $101,450 in prizemoney for her owners K T J Dixon, P Finlayson, Miss L M Latta, Ms D A Masters, M G Passey, A J Rennie and T D Tomlins.

“She has improved,” Latta said. “I wasn’t sure about backing her up today after Wanganui, but I was really happy with her on Wednesday morning and decided to back up. I’ve been a bit worried that she might only be a 1200-metre filly, but the way she settled and finished it off, I think she’ll get a bit more ground.

“She handles wet tracks well, but she has won on a good track too and I don’t think a good track will worry her.”

The Gold Trail win earned Dijon Bleu 6 points in the Filly of the Year Series. Florence Jean collected 3 points, with 1.5 for Princess Rihanna.

The second leg of the Series is the $300,000 Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 18.