Series Leader Dijon Bleu (NZ) Stars Again in Sir Tristram

Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy) expanded her lead in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series with another top-class performance in Saturday’s $100,000 Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa.

The Lisa Latta-trained filly has led the Series from the start, winning the first leg, the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in September. Since then she has placed in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m), then easily won the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).

Saturday’s race was a new test, stepping up to 2000 metres for the first time against a talented field. But Dijon Bleu came from well back in the field with a devastating turn of foot, taking a clear lead in the straight and holding on comfortably despite hanging out in the closing stages.

“I told Jonathan to just put her to sleep and get her to relax – that was the best chance of getting the 2000 metres,” said Latta, who also shares in the ownership along with K T J Dixon, P Finlayson, Ms D A Masters, M G Passey, A J Rennie and T D Tomlins.

“She was up against a lot of good fillies today, but she’s got a really electric turn of foot and she showed that.”

Dijon Bleu was a $26,000 purchase at the 2016 Select Sale at Karaka, and she has now had 11 starts for six wins, three placings and $306,700 in prizemoney.

Saturday’s win lifted Dijon Bleu to 30 points in the Filly of the Year Series, a clear lead over the second-placed Contessa Vanessa (NZ) (Bullbars) on 13.5.

The placegetters in Saturday’s race, Mark Two (NZ) (Pins) and Milseain (NZ) (Tavistock) move to 4 and 3.5 points respectively.

Three legs remain in the Filly of the Year Series, starting with the $70,000 Group 3 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings on March 1.