Fillies Pursue G1 Glory & $100,000 Super Bonus

Three-year-old fillies will be chasing valuable Group 1 success on Saturday in the Group 1 $300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 43rd 1000 Guineas over 1600m at Riccarton Park, the second leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, with four fillies racing for an extra $100,000.

Serena Miss (NZ) looking to further her points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series.

Four fillies are eligible for the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Super Bonus if they are able to win the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas. To be eligible for the Bonus, fillies have to be entered in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series and have been insured with NZB Insurance prior to being nominated for the Series.

A field of 14 fillies has been assembled for the Group 1 1600m feature on Saturday, with the winning horse awarded 12 points towards the Series, second place collecting 7 points and third earning 3.5 points.

Heading the field is Group 3 winner Secret Spirit (NZ) (Swiss Ace) for Matamata trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. Winning half of her eight starts, all at stakes level, she last placed third in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie three weeks ago. The daughter of Swiss Ace will commence from barrier 5.

Having already collected points in the Series, Serena Miss (NZ) (Iffraaj) is the first of three runners for trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson. A Group 2 winning juvenile in the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, the daughter of hot sire Iffraaj returned as a three-year-old to win the Group 2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes over 1400m before finishing third five days ago in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas.

Having ridden Serena Miss in all of her starts this season Leith Innes will be aboard again on Saturday, starting from barrier 2.

The Rogersons will also saddle Maritimo (NZ) (Pins) and Magic Dancer (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) on Saturday. Stakes winning juvenile Maritimo was a winner last weekend at Riccarton and will start from the coveted inside barrier draw for rider Johnathon Parkes.

Stablemate Magic Dancer will also be looking to claim her second stakes success after winning as a two-year-old in the Group 3 Taranaki 2YO Classic. Having her ninth start on Saturday, the daughter of Rip Van Winkle has the services of rider Darryl Bradley and will begin from barrier 10.

The only South Island trained hope to contest Saturday’s Group 1 feature is Dezzies Dream (NZ) (Coats Choice). The daughter of Coats Choice won her third race at the start of the season and was runner-up in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes. Trained by Sabin Kirkland, who owns in partnership with All Blacks coach Steve Hansen, this will be her ninth start and she will begin from barrier 13 for Jonathan Riddell.

A dual Listed winner from just three starts, No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma) will carry the colours of Go Racing Syndications for trainer Stephen Marsh. No More Tears won the Listed Star Way Stakes as a juvenile before returning as a three-year-old to win her last start, the Listed Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie. Regular rider Michael Coleman takes the ride from barrier 11.

No More Tears is eligible for the $100,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Super Bonus.

The consistent Mime (NZ) has placed no further back than a second in her five starts, winning two races. Jockey Opie Bosson will have his first ride on board the filly, starting from barrier 12 for last season’s leading trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.

A stakes winner last start at Riccarton Park, Risque (NZ) (Darci Brahma) won the Listed Armadillo Stakes over 1600m. With five starts under her belt, the daughter of Darci Brahma, trained by Te Akau Racing’s Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards, will be ridden by stable jockey Matthew Cameron, drawn barrier 3.

Making the trip from Ardmore for Jenna Mahoney, High Class (NZ) (Shocking) was an impressive winner on debut as a juvenile and was narrowly defeated last start in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes by rival No More Tears. The daughter of Shocking will begin from barrier 9.

Another daughter of Rip Van Winkle Let Her Rip (NZ) enters the race as the winner of two races, both over 1200m. The Shaune Ritchie trained three-year-old was a winner two starts ago at Te Rapa, her first start since finishing fifth in the Listed Anzac Days Stakes in Flemington in April. Let Her Rip will begin from barrier 7 for Lisa Allpress.

Two fillies carrying Te Akau Racing’s colours, Special Memories (Fastnet Rock) and Princess Davone (NZ) (Iffraaj), will also represent Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards’ stable. Special Memories placed third last start at Riccarton Park in the Listed Armadillo Stakes to race rival Risque. A winner at Riccarton Park, the daughter of Fastnet Rock will start from barrier 6 with Alysha Collett aboard.

Entering the race having placed in stakes races at her last two starts, Princess Davone has been a winner at Riccarton Park this preparation. Rider Michael McNab has the mount from barrier 4.

Both Special Memories and Princess Davone are eligible for the $100,000 Super Bonus.

Another filly that is partially eligible for the $100,000 Super Bonus is Strada Cavallo (NZ) (Alamosa). The daughter of Alamosa was a last start winner four weeks ago in the Listed John Grigg Stakes. Placing no further back than fourth in her four starts, Strada Cavallo will be ridden by last start rider Chris Johnson for trainer Graham Richardson.

Rounding out the field is Trinity Hill (NZ) (Iffraaj) for Australian-based trainer Francis Finnegan. Having started in just two races, both in Australia, she was a winner on debut over 1200m. Having her first tilt at a black-type race on Saturday, the daughter of Iffraaj will have Melbourne-based apprentice rider Jake Bayliss on board, drawn barrier 14.

Currently leading the NZB Filly of the Year leaderboard is Serious Satire (More Than Ready) with 6 points after winning the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes. Serena Miss sits in second place on 3 points and Strata Lady (NZ) (Stratum) in third on 1.5 points.

The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series Leaderboard can be viewed on the NZB website or to view the full field for the Group 1 $300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, click here.