Miss Federer (NZ) All the Way in Canterbury Belle

Less than 24 hours after being crowned last season’s champion South Island two-year-old, Miss Federer (NZ) (Swiss Ace) has scored first points in the 2019-20 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series.

The Andrew Carston-trained filly led all the way for a brilliant victory in the first leg of the Series, the $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Miss Federer rushed out of the starting gates to move to the head of the field, and she dominated the race from that point on.

She opened up a big margin early in the run home, then responded to the urgings of jockey Kylie Williams to win by a neck from the fast-finishing All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing) and Woodcote Lass (NZ) (Showcasing).

“She had come on nicely from her first run (second over 1000m on September 7), where she hit the wall at the 100m,” Carston told NZ Racing Desk. “I hadn’t been able to give her a trial before that race, so I knew she would take plenty of benefit from it.

“Kylie did a super job. She had a plan before the race and she executed it perfectly. Miss Federer did start to get a little tired at the end, but she had done a bit to get to the front, so that was to be expected.”

Bought for $10,000 at Book 2 of Karaka 2018, Miss Federer has had seven starts for four wins, two placings and $121,535 in prize-money – more than 12 times her purchase price.

Miss Federer now tops the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series table with 7 points, while All About Magic has 4 points and Woodcote Lass has 2.

The Series will resume in the late summer and autumn with the remaining three legs – the $50,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on February 29, the $50,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on April 4, and the $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on April 18.

Miss Federer, meanwhile, could be in line for a shot at the $300,000 Group 1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on November 16.

“People have asked me if she will get the 1600m of the 1000 Guineas and the simple answer is I just don’t know,” Carston said.

“She has a nomination for the race and that is our target, but whether she gets there or not will be up to her recovery from today and how she goes when we step her up over more ground.

“As long as she comes through this well, I will give her a month between runs and have a crack at the Barnswood Farm Stakes (Group 3, 1400m) at Ashburton in mid-October.

“If she is going to get that sort of trip then Ashburton is a good place to do it. Once we see how shegoes there then we can make plans for the Guineas or not.”