Contessa Vanessa (NZ) Chases Filly of the Year Series Leader
1 March 2018
 Sunline Vase 2017.jpg)
Only one filly poses any possible threat to the 2017-18 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series leader Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy).
That filly is Contessa Vanessa (NZ) (Bullbars), who will line up in the ninth leg of the Series, the $70,000 Group 3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Dijon Bleu has amassed a formidable tally of 30 points, which has almost guaranteed her the prestigious Filly of the Year title.
But with Dijon Bleu’s season now over due to a slight injury, second-placed Contessa Vanessa has window of opportunity. If she can win both the Sunline Vase (6 points to the winner) and the final leg of the Series, the $400,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 17 (12 points), Contessa Vanessa will finish with a winning score of 31.5 points.
Contessa Vanessa won the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day, and she has placed in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m). She warmed up for the Sunline Vase with an impressive win at Matamata last Saturday.
Other fillies in Saturday’s field with Filly of the Year Series points to their name are Kapoor (NZ) (Reliable Man) with 4, Blanco Belle (NZ) (Cape Blanco) with 3, Gris Dame (NZ) (Reliable Man) with 2 and Marcellina (NZ) (Savabeel) with 2.
The Sunline Vase will be run as Race 7 during Ellerslie’s New Zealand Derby meeting on Saturday, with a start time of 4.05pm.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Contessa Vanessa | 6 | The winner of the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and placed in two other Filly of the Year Series races, Contessa Vanessa (NZ) (Bullbars) could win the title if she wins this race and the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). | Team Rogerson | Chris Johnson |
| 2 | Kapoor | 8 | One of the most consistent fillies of her generation, Kapoor (NZ) (Reliable Man) has finished second in three stakes races this season including the Eight Carat Classic. She was an unlucky fourth in the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), and she had excuses in her last-start sixth in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic (2000m). | John Bell | Alysha Collett |
| 3 | Gris Dame | 4 | Gris Dame (NZ) (Reliable Man) made an impressive Filly of the Year Series debut with a fast-finishing third in the Eight Carat Classic, and she has been tripped up by wet tracks and bad racing luck in two subsequent appearances. | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards | Johnathan Parkes |
| 4 | Marcellina | 9 | Savabeel filly Marcellina (NZ) was a fast-finishing third in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) on New Year's Day. Since then she has finished 11th in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic and fifth in the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic. | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Matt Cameron |
| 5 | Blanco Belle | 11 | Taranaki visitor Blanco Belle (NZ) (Cape Blanco) is a multiple black-type performer, having placed in the Listed Wanganui Fillies' Stakes (1200m) and the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). She was a last-start fifth in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m). | Susan Rainford | Rosie Myers |
| 6 | Fiscal Fantasy | 10 | After impressive performances in lower grades, Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled) has joined the Filly of the Year Series with eighth placings in the Royal Stakes and Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic in her last two starts. | Frank Ritchie | Trudy Thornton |
| 7 | Gold Spice | 1 | Gold Spice (NZ) (Rock 'n' Pop) has yet to race at stakes level, but she has shown promise with a win, a second and a close fifth in her three starts. | Graham Richardson & Gavin Parker | Michael Coleman |
| 8 | Insight | 2 | Insight (NZ) (Shocking) won a maiden race by three and a half lengths in January, then stepped up in class with a close sixth in the Desert Gold Stakes. | Stephen Marsh | Danielle Johnson |
| 9 | Terra Sancta | 3 | Pierro filly Terra Sancta (NZ) is the least experienced runner in this field. She has had just two starts, winning on debut and then running a fast-finishing fourth in Rating 65 grade. | Tony Pike | Sam Collett |
| 10 | Excelsior Island | 5 | A well-bred daughter of Exceed and Excel, Excelsior Island has had four starts to date for one win. | Mark Forbes | Jake Bayliss |
| 11 | Sunburst | 7 | Mastercraftsman filly Sunburst (NZ) has won one of her six starts and finished 10th in the Oaks Prelude. | Danica Guy | Michael McNab |