Fillies Step Up to 1400m in Soliloquy Lodge Stakes

New Zealand's leading three-year-old fillies step up to 1400m in the Listed Soliloquy Lodge Stakes on Saturday, on the path to the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series crown.

Set to take place at Ellerslie racecourse, the $45,000 Soliloquy Lodge Stakes has attracted a bumper field of sixteen starters - all of them winners - and six emergencies.

Connections of each will be chasing valuable Filly of the Year points with four points on offer for first, two points for second, and one point for third on offer.

Clearly ahead on the ratings is Richard Yuill's Seven Schillings (O'Reilly x Landon, by Shannon) who is rated four points clear of the field that will all carry 56kgs tomorrow.

Seven Schillings' finest hour came at the Ellerslie racecourse as a two-year-old in March when she finished second behind Kaaptan (Kaapstad) in the Group 1 Diamond Stakes (1200m). At her previous start to that she had run her opposition ragged to win the Group 3 Taranaki Ford Two-Year-Old Classic (1200m).

The only other stakes-winner in the field comes in the form of last start Listed Wanganui Fillies Classic (1200m) winner One Swanstonstreet (Sandtrap x Tunes of Glory, by Maroof). The lightly raced Andrew Scott-trained filly made all the running and hung on gamely at Wanganui, characteristics which will take her close on Saturday.

Having won two from three starts, Aspinol (Pins x Clermont Rose, by Sound Reason) has looked impressive for Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue especially when beating older horses in a Rating 70 event at Waikato on 11 September.

A last start winner, Aspinol is one of nine fillies set to start in the Soliloquy Lodge Stakes who tasted victory at their last start.

Mike and Paul Moroney's Our Tigress (Tiger Hill x Trujillo, by Saint Ballado) and Ross McCarrols' Tivoli (Danroad x Astyanax, by Hector Protector) enter the race unbeaten with one start at three, each for first prize.

Tivoli won over 1200m on the same day as Aspinol but completed the journey half a second slower. However, she is expected to enjoy the step-up to 1400m and has shown she can handle a rain affected track.

Our Tigress is in the same boat given her breeding and her impressive two and a half length win on a heavy track at Paeroa over 1150m.

Further last start winners include Donna Logan, Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs trained C'mon Cuba (Thorn Park x Hecuba, by Danzero), Peter Huxtable's Crybaby (Silver River x Nassa Point, by Nassipour), Graeme and Debbie Rogerson's Cinnie (Keeper x Athenri, by Zabeel), Danica Guy's Monopoly (Danroad x Queensway, by Hula Town) and Guiseppina (Johar x Battochi, by Success Express) who wears the Pencarrow Stud colours from the stable of Mark Walker.

The remainder of the field have all won a race including John Sargent's Cat Woman (Scaredee Cat x Kara Kum, by Desert Sun) and Richard Yuill's Tossed and Turned (Secret Savings x Dolphinima, by Dolphin Street) who are both eligible for the $200,000 Karaka 3YO Mile on Karaka Million night in January.

Seven Schillings and C'Mon Cuba are also eligible for the event exclusively held for nominated graduates of the NZB 2008 National Yearling Sale Series.

Carrie Ann (Canny Lad x Aine, by Octagonal) for Donna and Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs, Masquerade (No Excuse Needed x Disguised, by O'Reilly) for Stephen McKee, Justine's Pride (Keeper x Justine Coup, by Entrepreneur) for Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, and Sophia (Spectatorial x Da Bomb, by Exploding Prospect) for Kerry and Belinda Verner, have all won their second to last starts.

The Soliloquy Stakes winner hasn't gone on to be the ultimate winner of the Filly of the year Series since Sarwatch in 1999.

The Listed Soliloquy Lodge Stakes, the second leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series currently headed by Group 3 Windsor Park Stud Gold Trail Stakes winner St Germaine (Keeper), is set to jump at 3.25pm on Saturday afternoon.

Click here for more information on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.