Fillies Trail for Gold in the Series Opener

The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series kicks into action at Hastings on Saturday with the running of the re-programmed $70,000 Group 3 Windsor Park/Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).

Stakes-winner Maritimo (NZ) will contest Saturday's Group 3 Windsor Park/Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes.

Celebrating its 43^rd anniversary, the coveted New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title is awarded to the three-year-old filly that accumulates the most points in the 10-race Series in New Zealand.

Saturday’s race is run over 1200m with the distances increasing throughout the Series and culminating in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400m at Trentham. Fillies that compete in the Series are awarded points for wins or placings in each race.

A field of 15 fillies will contest the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes with the winning horse awarded 6 points towards the Series, runner-up will receive 3 points and 1.5 points for third place.

At the top of the book is the first of three runners for Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, Maritimo (NZ) (Pins). The daughter of Pins won two of her four starts as a juvenile, including the Listed Wellesley Stakes by an impressive four-and-a-half-lengths and was runner-up in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes.

The Rogerson partnership will also saddle Group 2 winning juvenile Serena Miss (NZ) (Iffraaj) and Thwayya (Snitzel) on Saturday. Serena Miss gained victory in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, defeating race rival Nahema (NZ) (Per Incanto). Thwayya made four appearances as a juvenile, winning two of them and finishing third at her last start in the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes.

Maritimo will be ridden from barrier 3 by Johnathon Parkes after being on board in her first stakes win. Leith Innes has been engaged to ride Serena Miss from barrier 14 and Thwayya has drawn the outside barrier of 16 with champion apprentice rider Rory Hutchings aboard.

Stakes placegetter Strata Lady (NZ) (Stratum) will represent Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s Wexford Stables. A winner on debut, Strata Lady placed third in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and ran a credible fifth in the Group 1 Diamond Stakes last season. Jockey Craig Grylls takes the ride, commencing from barrier 2.

The first of three runners from Stephen Marsh’s stable is Nahema, a daughter of Leading First Season Sire by winners Per Incanto. Nahema was runner-up in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, narrowly beaten by Serena Miss. Rosie Myers takes her first ride on the filly, starting from barrier 8.

Another runner for Per Incanto is the Lisa Latta trained Bella Court (NZ). She won over 1200m at Ellerslie as a juvenile and ran a credible fifth placing in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes. Having had two trials in preparation for her first-up assignment, she will start from barrier 12 for jockey Kelly Myers.

A stakes-winner on debut was No More Tears (NZ) (Darci Brahma), trained by Stephen Marsh. The daughter of Darci Brahma won over 1100m in the Listed Hamilton Vets Equine Stakes, defeating rival Thwayya in her two-year-old season. Michael Coleman takes the ride again, drawn barrier 4.

The daughter of late Champion Sire O’Reilly, O’Dianne (NZ), will be starting her spring campaign in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes for trainers Stephen McKee and Eddie Chippendale. Finishing fourth in the $1m Karaka Million, O’Dianne will jump from barrier 15 with rider Sam Spratt aboard.

The owners of last year’s Filly of the Year winner Platinum Witness (California Dane) return this season to contest Saturday’s event with three-year-old Platinum Express (NZ) (Showcasing). Also from Lisa Latta’s stable, trainer of Platinum Witness, the daughter of Showcasing was a winner as a juvenile and finished second in the Listed Wellesley Stakes to Maritimo. She will be ridden by Robert Hannam from barrier 9.

Stablemate to Nahema and No More Tears, Serious Satire (More Than Ready) will have her third start on Saturday after winning last start over 1200m in an undercard race on the first day of the Hawke’s Bay Carnival. Regular rider Danielle Johnson will be aboard, beginning from barrier 6 for Stephen Marsh.

Debut winner Love Triangle (NZ) (Encosta de Lago) created a big impression with victory five weeks ago at Ruakaka, winning over 1200m on a dead track. Carrying the famous Coolmore colours, New Zealand’s leading jockey of last season Matthew Cameron takes the ride, commencing from barrier 7 for Te Akau Racing’s trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.

An early scratching of Let Her Rip (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) has left Shaune Ritchie’s Cambridge stable with just one filly making her three-year-old debut at Hastings with Sally’s Mustang (Nicconi). Having one start for one win, Jonathan Riddell has been engaged to ride, drawn barrier 5.

Looking to break her maiden status is Free Rein (NZ) (Darci Brahma). The daughter of Darci Brahma made her debut two weeks ago where she was runner-up at Wanganui over 1200m. Free Rein will start from barrier 11 for jockey Trudy Thornton, trained by Rachael Frost.

The Jim Wallace trained Bellissimo (NZ) (Showcasing) has had just one raceday appearance, as a three-year-old at Hawke’s Bay. The daughter of Champion First Season Sire Showcasing, Bellissimo will have Lisa Allpress take her first ride on the filly from barrier 1.

The final filly in the racebook is the locally trained Iff So Happens (NZ) (Iffraaj), trained by John Moeke. The Karaka graduate had her first start last week at Otaki and will contest the Group 3 feature from barrier 13.

Saturday’s event will be the first chance for fillies to get points on the board in the sought-after Series, with the Group 3 Windsor Park/Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes set to run as Race 4 at 1.43pm, click here to view the full field.

For more information on the NZB Filly of the Year Series, click here.