Eighth Leg of NZB Filly of the Year Series a Key Oaks Trial
27 February 2018
The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series continues on Thursday with the eighth leg, the $70,000 Group 3 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings – a key lead-up to Oaks races on both sides of the Tasman.
Lowland Stakes winners have a remarkable Oaks record in recent seasons. The 2015 winner Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel) won the New Zealand Oaks, 2016 winner Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi) finished second in the New Zealand Oaks before winning the Australian Oaks, and last year’s winner Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi) won both the New Zealand Oaks and Australian Oaks.
This year’s 13-strong Lowland Stakes field features Group 1 winner Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel), Group 1 placegetters Belle du Nord (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel), stakes winner Treasure (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), and stakes placegetters Milseain (NZ) (Tavistock), Swing Note (Encosta de Lago), Caricature (NZ) (Power) and Luxe (NZ) (O’Reilly).
The Lowland Stakes is worth 6 Filly of the Year Series points to the winner, with 3 points for second and 1.5 for third.
Hasahalo currently sits third on the points table with 12, just behind the second-placed Contessa Vanessa (NZ) (Bullbars) who has 13.5. Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy) is the clear leader with 30 points.
The Lowland Stakes will be run as Race 7 on Thursday’s twilight programme, with a start time of 5.47pm.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Hasahalo | 13 | Savabeel filly Hasahalo (NZ) was a dominant four-length winner of the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November, beating Filly of the Year Series leader Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy). She has been unplaced in two subsequent starts. | Stephen McKee | Sam Spratt |
| 2 | Belle du Nord | 11 | Belle du Nord (NZ) (Reliable Man) has only won once in her 10-start career, but her five placings include the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) and Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m). | Emma-Lee & David Browne | Vinnie Colgan |
| 3 | Savvy Coup | 7 | South Island filly Savvy Coup (NZ) (Savabeel) has made a rapid rise to prominence in her last six starts, winning three times including the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m) and placing in the other three. Those include the Group 1 Levin Classic and the $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). | Michael & Matthew Pitman | Chris Johnson |
| 4 | Milseain | 5 | A full-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Werther (NZ) and Group 3 winner Gobstopper (NZ), Milseain (NZ) (Tavistock) won on debut and has placed in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic (2000m) in her two subsequent appearances. | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Jonathan Riddell |
| 5 | Treasure | 6 | After fast-finishing placings over shorter distances, Treasure (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) stepped up to 1800 metres last start and scored an impressive win in the Listed Oaks Prelude. | Tony Pike | Michael McNab |
| 6 | Pinup Coup | 8 | A stablemate to Savvy Coup, Pins filly Pinup Coup (NZ) has won two of her six starts and didn't have a lot of luck when fifth in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes. | Michael & Matthew Pitman | Sam Weatherley |
| 7 | Swing Note | 10 | Encosta de Lago filly Swing Note has won one of her 10 starts, but finished third in the Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m) and fifth in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas. | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards | Opie Bosson |
| 8 | In The Clear | 3 | In The Clear (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) has won twice in her eight-start career, and she finished seventh in the Eulogy Stakes and eighth in the Oaks Prelude. Owner-breeders The Oaks Stud and jockey Michael Coleman won a Group 1 at this track last Saturday with Devise (NZ) (Darci Brahma). | Graeme Sanders & Debbie Sweeney | Michael Coleman |
| 9 | Caricature | 4 | Owned by the China Horse Club, well-bred filly Caricature (NZ) (Power) has had just three starts for a debut fourth, a win and a last-start second in the Oaks Prelude. | Tony Pike | Leith Innes |
| 10 | Luxe | 1 | O'Reilly filly Luxe (NZ) is a maiden, but was stakes-placed in the Oaks Prelude last start. | Emma-Lee & David Browne | Darryl Bradley |
| 11 | Anevay | 2 | An impressive maiden winner in December, Anevay (NZ) (Ocean Park) has subsequently been unplaced in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and the Oaks Prelude. | Glenn Old | Alysha Collett |
| 12 | Le Sablier | 9 | Tavistock filly Le Sablier (NZ) has had three starts, finishing eighth on debut before running second in each of her last two appearances. | Karen Fursdon | Johnathan Parkes |
| 13 | Za Za Gabor | 12 | Za Za Gabor (O'Reilly) has finished further back than fifth only once in her four-start career - a last-start 10th after leading in the Desert Gold Stakes. | Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard |