Showbeel (NZ) Upsets Filly of the Year Leaders in Desert Gold

A new contender emerged in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series on Saturday when Showbeel (NZ) (Savabeel) impressively won the $70,000 Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

All eyes were on the Filly of the Year Series table-toppers Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle), who had finished first and second in the Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November. Since then, Jennifer Eccles had moved to the top of the leader board with a victory in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m).

But Showbeel upstaged them both on Saturday, charged to the lead in the straight after trailing the leaders through the early part of the race. Ridden by champion jockey Opie Bosson, she produced a powerful kick and burst clear.

Loire and Jennifer Eccles ran on strongly in the last 200 metres and made up ground, but Showbeel fought too strongly and stayed out of their reach by a length.

“It was a very good run and she has always shown us this sort of quality,” said Andrew Forsman, who trains Showbeel in partnership with Murray Baker.

“She just hasn’t had a lot of luck. The draw cost her last time (eighth in the Eight Carat Classic). From a good barrier today and with a good ride, she showed her class. She is a filly on the way up.”

Showbeel has the pedigree of a top-liner, being by champion sire Savabeel out of Showileo (Galileo), a daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Showella (NZ) (Lord Ballina). Showileo is a half-sister to three stakes winners.

Showbeel was a $215,000 purchase by Baker Racing at Book 1 of Karaka 2018.

Having placed in last month’s Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m), Showbeel already had 1.5 points to her name in the Filly of the Year Series. Saturday’s victory moves her to 7.5 points and fifth spot on the table.

Loire and Jennifer Eccles now share the top position with 16.5 points apiece.

The next leg in the Filly of the Year Series is the Group 2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 8.

“We’ll take Showbeel home now and head towards the Fillies’ Classic and then the New Zealand Oaks (Group 1, 2400m at Trentham on March 14),” Forsman said.