Emerging Filly Burgie (NZ) Makes Statement in NZB Southern Filly Finale

The 2021-22 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly Series already had its winner before Saturday’s fourth and final leg, but up-and-comer Burgie (NZ) (Ghibellines) announced herself as a filly to follow with an upset over Series champion Reputabelle (NZ) (Pins) in the $60,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton.

An impressive winner of both the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) and Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m), Reputabelle went into the Warstep Stakes with 14 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series. With 7 points available to the winner of each race and no rival in Saturday’s field within that range, she was already guaranteed the prestigious title.

But Reputabelle was shooting for something extra special, attempting to join the 2014 star Madam Victoria (NZ) (High Chaparral) as only the second filly to win all three autumn legs of the Southern Filly Series in the 22 years that it has been sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock.

That exclusive club beckoned Reputabelle for a large part of the Warstep Stakes, but then Burgie burst her bubble down the long Riccarton home straight.

Caught wide in the early stages, Reputabelle strode forward to take up the unusual role of leader, and after being pushed by rival Taimate Diva (NZ) (Telperion) approaching the home turn, she pinned her ears back and kicked away from that rival to take a clear lead.

But the next challenge was a far more formidable one. After fast-finishing fifths in both the NZB Airfreight Stakes and NZB Insurance Stakes, Burgie relished the step up to 2000 metres for Saturday’s Warstep Stakes and went into full flight in the final 400 metres.

She came with huge strides and bounded straight past Reputabelle, taking control of the race and holding out a late bid by Belle Of The Ball (NZ) (Savabeel) to score by half a length.

Burgie was bred by White Robe Lodge’s Brian and Lorraine Anderton and is by White Robe Lodge stallion Ghibellines. She is the first foal out of Norah (NZ) (Gallant Guru), who has subsequently produced another Ghibellines filly and a colt by Jon Snow (NZ)

Burgie’s owners are Brian and Lorraine Anderton and the B J’s Southern Syndicate, and Brian Anderton trains her in partnership with his son Shane.

“It’s a fantastic result,” Shane Anderton said. “She’s obviously White Robe Lodge born and bred, and the B J’s Southern Syndicate have been one of our longest-serving clients. They’ve been there basically since we first started syndicating horses, and they’ve raced quite a few good horses over the years. Now they’ve got another one.

“She won really well today, that was a big performance. She deserved a bit of black type after some big efforts in her last few starts, particularly in the NZB Insurance Stakes a couple of weeks ago. She could have won that race if she’d had any luck at all that day, but the way she found the line certainly gave us a bit of confidence for the step up to 2000 metres this afternoon. She’s done a great job.

“That’ll be it for her in this preparation, and she can go out to the paddock for a really nice break now.”

From seven starts, Burgie has picked up two wins, two second placings and $56,220 in stakes.

Burgie finishes with 7 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series, sharing second place with Art De Triomphe (NZ) (Vadamos).

The runaway winner is Reputabelle, who picked up another 2 points and finishes with 16. She has now had eight starts for four wins and a third, amassing $99,090 in prize-money.

“We were hoping we might be able to get a bit of cover just behind the speed in today’s race,” co-trainer Matthew Pitman said. “But she had to do a bit of work early and unfortunately ended up out in front and with a bit of pressure on a fair way out.

“She’s still been very brave all the way to the finish, and we’re proud of her. She’s won the Southern Filly Series, and she really deserves that. She’s arguably been the horse of the autumn in the South Island. If she’d managed to win again, which would have been five in a row, it would have put an exclamation point on that. But she’s still done a great job, picking up two stakes races and winning the Southern Filly Series.”