Battle of the Southern Fillies Begins

New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year Series gets underway this Saturday with the running of the $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Racecourse.

Windborne (NZ) in search of second stakes win in the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes.

This is the 15^th year that the New Zealand Bloodstock sponsored event will take place, with the first of the four races commencing this weekend and concluding in April with the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes.

All four legs in the Series are run at Listed level and provide the opportunity for fillies to gain valuable black-type, adding residual value to their pedigrees.

Saturday’s South Island feature has attracted a field of 11 fillies to contest the race over 1200m.

The first horse in the racebook is Dezzie’s Dream (NZ) (Coats Choice) for trainer Sabin Kirkland. Bred and owned by All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, Dezzies Dream has won three of her five starts, all at Riccarton Park. Regular rider Jacob Lowry takes the mount, commencing from barrier 4.

The Te Akau Racing partnership of Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards has a strong presence in the race with three runners. Stakes winning two-year-old Windborne (NZ) (Darci Brahma) is joined by last start winner at Riccarton Park Princess Davone (NZ) (Iffraaj) and Special Memories (Fastnet Rock), a winner over 1100m.

Racing in the Fortuna silks, Windborne will take her place in the field with Rosie Myers aboard, jumping from barrier of 1. The daughter of Darci Brahma will be looking to emulate her full-sister, Darci’s Dream, who won this exact race last year for Te Akau Racing.

Te Akau Racing’s Princess Davone will begin from barrier 5 for rider David Walsh having won over the same distance on the course two weeks ago.

The final runner for the tangerine silks is Special Memories, a daughter of Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, who will be ridden for the first time by Cameron Lammas from barrier 11.

Last start stakes-winner at Riccarton Park Peach Cove (NZ) (Buffalo Man) is having her first start since winning the Listed Champagne Stakes as a juvenile. Trained by Mandy and Matt Brown, the daughter of Buffalo Man will start from barrier 8.

The Ross Beckett trained Salu (NZ) (Edenwold) broke her maiden four weeks ago over 1200m, her third start after placing third on debut. Commencing from barrier 10, Ryan Bishop takes the ride.

Making the trip from the far north is Royal Raine (NZ) (Thorn Park) for trainers Kenny and Lisa Rae. A starter in six races, the daughter of Thorn Park won her first race three weeks ago on her hometrack of Ruakaka. Royal Raine has drawn barrier 7 with Terry Moseley on board.

Entering the race as a maiden is Manamanup (NZ) (Sufficient). With just two starts under her belt Manamanup debuted her three-year-old season with a third placed performance over 1200m at Riccarton Park. Starting from barrier 2, Rebecca Black continues her association with her for trainer Stephen Washington.

Also looking to break her maiden status is Karaka graduate Lindis Pass (NZ) (Iffraaj). Starting in three races as a juvenile, Lindis Pass began her three-year-old campaign two weeks ago, running third to race rival Dezzie’s Dream. Trained by Kevin and Pam Hughes, she will commence from barrier 3 for rider Doni Prastiyou.

A further two maiden runners round out the field with Strolling Vagabond (NZ) (Darci Brahma) from Gerald Innes’ stable starting from barrier 6 and the Terri Rae trained Aspen Lass (NZ) (Alamosa) having her second start with Samantha Wynne riding again, drawn barrier 9.

The winner of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes will be awarded 7 points towards NZB’s Southern Filly of the Year Series, second place will earn 3 points and third place will receive 1 point.

To view the full field for the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes, click here.

For more information on NZB’s Southern Filly of the Year Series, click here.