NZB Southern Filly Series Resumes at Wingatui

28 February 2020

Current NZB SFOTY leader Miss Federer (NZ).
Current NZB SFOTY leader Miss Federer (NZ).

The New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series resumes in the $50,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Saturday, and three exciting races between now and the end of April will determine the South Island’s filly supremacy for 2019-20.

The first leg of the Series was the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton on September 21, which was won by one of last season’s leading juvenile fillies in Miss Federer (NZ) (Swiss Ace).

As a result of that win, the star of Andrew Carston’s Riccarton stable tops the Southern Filly of the Year standings with 7 points, while Canterbury Belle Stakes placegetters All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing) and Woodcote Lass (NZ) (Showcasing) have 4 and 2 points respectively.

Miss Federer is back to defend her Series lead on Saturday, and All About Magic is again amongst her opposition. Both fillies have prepared for this rematch with solid placings in their most recent appearances.

But there is plenty of other talent in Saturday’s line-up. Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) has risen to prominence in recent weeks with a placing in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and a last-start victory over Miss Federer, while Trifolium (Krupt) has been a stakes performer in the North Island and Bronte Beach (NZ) (Reliable Man) has consistently stormed home to finish right behind the placegetters in major three-year-old features.

The lightly raced Asathought (So You Think) was a stakes placegetter last start and is a half-sister to the multiple Group One winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock).

Saturday’s exciting clash will be followed by the other two remaining legs of the Series – the Listed NZB Insurance (1600m) at Riccarton on April 4, and the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at the same venue two weeks later. All races are worth 7 points to the winner, with 4 for second and 2 for third.

The NZB Airfreight Stakes will be run as Race 9 at Wingatui on Saturday with a start time of 4:49pm.

View the full NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series leaderboard here.

# Horse Draw Comments Trainer Jockey
1 Miss Federer 2 Swiss Ace filly Miss Federer (NZ) won the first leg of the Series, the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton in September. She has placed in two of her four subsequent appearances, and the other two were close up behind the placegetters in the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) and Listed Gore Guineas (1335m). Andrew Carston Kylie Williams
2 Live Drama 12 Live Drama (NZ) (Ghibellines) has come of age in recent starts. She produced a career-best performance for second in a photo finish to the Gore Guineas, then beat Miss Federer over 1200 metres at Riccarton on February 13. Lance Robinson Terry Moseley
3 Trifolium 4 Marton visitor Trifolium (Krupt) has won three races, including her most recent appearance at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day. She also ran second in the Listed Wanganui Fillies' Stakes (1200m) in September, and a solid sixth in last month's Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham. Fraser Auret Chris Johnson
4 All About Magic 7 All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing) was a stakes winner last season, and she has added black-type placings in the Canterbury Belle Stakes, Group 3 War Decree Stakes (1600m) and Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) as a three-year-old. Michael & Matthew Pitman Kavish Chowdhoory
5 Bronte Beach 16 On paper, Bronte Beach (NZ) (Reliable Man) has had a poor season with just one placing from seven starts. But she has consistently produced powerful finishing bursts to finish close up in the Canterbury Belle Stakes, Barneswood Farm Stakes, War Decree Stakes, Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), Gore Guineas and Dunedin Guineas. Stephen Marsh Kozzi Asano
6 Asathought 1 A half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Avantage (Fastnet Rock), promising filly Asathought (So You Think) has had two fourths and a third from three career starts. The third came in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) two weeks ago, where she had an interrupted run in the straight and was unlucky. Lisa Vaughan Corey Campbell
7 Siracusa 13 Carrying the famous colours of owner-breeder Sir Peter Vela, the lightly raced Siracusa (NZ) (Sebring) has had a win and two fourths in her three starts to date. She was a close fourth in the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) in November. Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie Jason Laking
8 Blackbook 5 Blackbook (NZ) (Sacred Falls) won impressively at Riccarton two starts back, but finished at the tail of the field in the Dunedin Guineas after over-racing. Nick Wigley & Kayla Milnes Tina Comignaghi
9 Far Site 9 After a distant 13th in the 1000 Guineas in the spring, Far Site (NZ) (Makfi) has gone in the right direction with a strong third at Riccarton and a very unlucky ninth in her most recent appearance. Neill Ridley Lee Callaway
10 Hot Tap 10 Proisir filly Hot Tap (NZ) was a prominent performer in all of the South Island's three summer Guineas races, making up good ground for ninth in the Gore Guineas before an unlucky fifth in the Dunedin Guineas and a sixth in the Southland Guineas. Kerry & Ian Taplin Courtney Barnes
11 Rockin Robin 11 Rockin Robin (NZ) (Showcasing) showed little in her first campaign, but started her second one with an impressive maiden win at Ascot Park two weeks ago. Robert Dennis Brett Murray
12 Ginny 8 Jakkalberry filly Ginny (NZ) won stylishly at Omakau on January 3. She has been unplaced in two subsequent appearances, including the Dunedin Guineas. Terry Kennedy Leah Hemi
13 Our Rosette 17 Our Rosette (NZ) (Highly Recommended) was unplaced in the Canterbury Belle Stakes in the spring, but has steadily improved since then, culminating in a last-start maiden win at Riccarton. Michael & Matthew Pitman
14 Heidi Hi 14 Heidi Hi (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) has had a win and a placing in her four-start career, but has been unplaced on rain-affected ground in her last two starts. Robert Dennis Jacob Lowry
15 Papagena 6 Papagena (NZ) (Tavistock) was a winner in August and began her latest campaign with a third behind Live Drama and Miss Federer. Kevin & Pam Hughes Doni Prastiyou
16 Fairway Flight 3 Promising filly Fairway Flight (NZ) (Highly Recommended) is still a maiden but has placed in all of her three starts in this preparation. Leda Beck
17 Matuki 15 Pins filly Matuki (NZ) was an unlucky fifth in her most recent start at Riccarton on February 13. Neill Ridley