Canterbury Belle Kickstarts NZB Southern Filly Series
10 September 2026
This week marks the beginning of two prestigious NZB-sponsored series for three-year-old fillies, whose first legs have taken place a week apart at two of New Zealand’s most iconic racing venues.
The NZB Filly of the Year Series began at Ellerslie last Saturday with the Group Three Sunline Vase (1200m), and this Saturday marks the first leg of the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series with the running of the $80,000 Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.
The Southern Filly Series consists of four Listed races in the South Island – the Canterbury Belle Stakes, the $90,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day, the $80,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on April 10, and the $80,000 Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on April 24.
The winner of each race will earn 7 points, with 4 for second and 2 for third. The filly with the most points at the end of the series be the NZB Southern Filly of the Year, with a trophy presented to connections during the South Island Racing Awards the following September. The winners also receive an insurance policy from NZB Insurance to the value of $50,000 plus GST.
At the conclusion of an exciting 2025-26 NZB Southern Filly Series, the coveted title went to Miss Starlight (NZ) (Sweynesse) with 15 points. Bona Sforza (Written By) finished second with 11 points, while Perlino (NZ) (Super Seth) filled the third spot on the podium with 9 points.
Bred, raced and trained by John and Karen Parsons, Miss Starlight played a key role in three of the four legs of last season’s Southern Filly Series. She won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes, then ran second in both the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes and the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes.
This year’s Canterbury Belle is set to get the 2026-27 NZB Southern Filly Series off to a strong start, with a well-credentialled field of 14 fillies assembled including last season’s Group One Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) runner-up Sweetest Thing (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) along with six race winners.
The NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes will be run as Race 7 at Riccarton on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 3.30pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sweetest Thing | 6 | Sweetest Thing (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) was bought for $80,000 from Karaka 2025 and earned more than $137,000 from a highly promising two-year-old campaign. She placed in three of her four starts last season, culminating in a terrific second in the Group One Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) in late March. This will be her first raceday appearance since then, but she won a trial at Ashburton on August 25. | Karaka 2025, Book 1 | RJ Bergerson / Chris Rutten Bloodstock, $80,000 |
| 2 | Outback Girl | 4 | After hinting at huge potential with a blistering trial win in September of 2025, Outback Girl (Bivouac) went on to record a second, a third, two black-type fourths and a sixth from her five raceday starts as a two-year-old. She upped her game significantly in her three-year-old debut at Riccarton on August 29, outclassing a talented field by three and a quarter lengths. | ||
| 3 | Glamour Extreme | 3 | Passed in during Book 2 of Karaka 2025 with a $22,000 reserve, Glamour Extreme (Extreme Warrior) has made a big impression in a two-start career to date that has produced a win and a strong-finishing second. | Karaka 2025, Book 2 | Psd, Res $22,000 |
| 4 | Citala | 5 | Citala (NZ) (Shamexpress) races in the colours of her breeders and part-owners Windsor Park Stud. She performed solidly for fourth in both of her appearances as a two-year-old, then showed good improvement when clearing maiden ranks in her three-year-old debut at Timaru last Sunday. | ||
| 5 | Doubtable | 2 | The Terri Rae-trained Doubtable (Doubtland) was a winner in the autumn and has never finished further back than fourth in her four-race career. Her two starts as a three-year-old - both at Riccarton, and over 1000 and 1200 metres - have produced two strong placings. | ||
| 6 | Final Time | 12 | A daughter of John and Karen Parsons' triple Group One winner Final Touch (NZ) (Kashani), the talented Final Time (NZ) has had five starts for a win and two placings. She earned black type in the autumn when third in both the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). The Parsons stable claimed the NZB Southern Filly title last season with Miss Starlight (NZ) (Sweynesse). | ||
| 7 | Platinum La Danse | 10 | Both of the parents of Platinum La Danse (NZ) were black-type stars here at Riccarton. Her sire Noverre (NZ) won the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), while dam Platinum Command (NZ) (Red Giant) won 10 races including the Group Three Winter Cup (1600m). Platinum La Danse was a $45,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2025 and has had a win and a placing from her five starts so far. She was a creditable last-start fifth in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m). | Karaka 2025, Book 2 | KT Dixon, $45,000 |
| 8 | Sword Of Stars | 14 | The well-related Sword Of Stars (NZ) (Sword Of State) was a $350,000 purchase by Te Akau Racing principal Sir David Ellis from Book 1 of Karaka 2025. She had three starts as a two-year-old for two placings and has trialled well leading into this first-up appearance. | Karaka 2025, Book 1 | DC Ellis, $350,000 |
| 9 | Ardent Love | 11 | Ardent Love (NZ) (Ardrossan) only made her debut last Sunday, where she produced an encouraging performance for second behind Canterbury Belle rival Citala (NZ) (Shamexpress). This is a step up in class on a quick back-up. | ||
| 10 | Imelda Melody | 7 | Imelda Melody (NZ) (War Decree) has had two starts, both over 1000 metres, for a second and an eighth. She was doing her best work late in the most recent of those, suggesting the extra distance this weekend might suit. | ||
| 11 | Luminosity | 1 | Luminosity (NZ) (Too Darn Hot) races in the colours of owner-breeders Inglewood Stud, who also bred and raced the 10-race winner Canterbury Belle (NZ) (Beaufort Sea), after whom this race is named. The Inglewood colours were also carried to victory in this race by Matchmaker (NZ) (Makfi) in 2020. Luminosity has herself had two starts so far for a second and a sixth. | Karaka 2025, Book 1 | Psd, Res $150,000 |
| 12 | Pure Story | 8 | Rangiora filly Pure Story (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) has had two starts for a sixth on debut and a strong-finishing second in her most recent appearance. | ||
| 13 | Gina Gillotti | 9 | Bought for $28,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2025, Gina Gillotti (NZ) (Castelvecchio) has had one start for a close and creditable third over this course and distance. | Karaka 2025, Book 2 | MJ Hall/LM Robinson, $28,000 |
| 14 | Niccita | 13 | Niccita (Nicconi) was a $37,500 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2025. She made her debut over 1000 metres at Riccarton on August 29 and was badly blocked throughout the home straight when finishing seventh. A better result here would not surprise. | Karaka 2025, Book 2 | Ballymore Racing NZ Ltd/Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman, $37,500 |