First Distance Test for NZB Filly of the Year Hopefuls
29 December 2016
The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series stretches beyond 1600 metres for the first time in the 2016-17 season when a field of 12 fillies contests the $100,000 Group 2 Stella Artois Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
With none of the winners of the previous legs – Honey Rider (NZ) (Pins), La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) and current Series leader Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) – lining up in this race, the Royal Stakes presents an opportunity for others to make their move up the leader board. The winner of the race receives 8 points, with 4 points for second and 2 for third.
The only runner in the Royal Stakes who already has points to her name is Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins), who picked up three points for finishing second to Honey Rider in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).
Several other fillies bring strong form credentials into the race, including last-start winners Dame Margo Fonteyn (NZ) (High Chaparral) and Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel).
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Dame Margo Fonteyn | 5 | Highly rated filly Dame Margo Fonteyn (NZ )(High Chaparral) has scored impressive victories over 1400m and 1600m in her last two starts. She is expected to relish the step up to 2000m for this race and is being set for the New Zealand Oaks. | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards | Matt Cameron |
| 2 | Glass Slipper | 10 | Although still a maiden, Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins) has been stakes-placed in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and Listed Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). She finished fifth in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing day. | Lance O'Sullivan & Andrew Scott | Leith Innes |
| 3 | Angeline | 12 | A daughter of Cape Blanco and the Wellington Cup winner Megapins (NZ) (Pins), Angeline (NZ) was an impressive maiden winner two starts back before producing a strong late run into fourth place in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m). | Shaune Ritchie | |
| 4 | Nicoletta | 2 | Savabeel filly Nicoletta (NZ) capped an improving form line with a convincing last-start win at Tauranga. This is her first attempt at black-type level. | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Michael Coleman |
| 5 | Avec Moi | 7 | Pour Moi filly Avec Moi (NZ) picked up a win and a placing in her first three starts, but she has been unplaced at stakes level in her two appearances since then. She finished a troubled 12th in the Eight Carat Classic. | Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard | Craig Grylls |
| 6 | Gangsters Lass | 9 | A winner at Tauranga in October, Te Aroha filly Gangsters Lass (NZ) (Guillotine) has finished outside the placings in her two most recent appearances. | John Revell | |
| 7 | Madam Monica | 4 | Madam Monica (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) is still a maiden but has shown promise in her five-start career with two seconds and a third. | Stephen Autridge & Jamie Richards | Opie Bosson |
| 8 | Driven Force | 1 | One of the least experienced runners in the field, Driven Force (NZ) (Road To Rock) has had just three starts for a fifth, a fourth and a last-start second. | Roger James | Vinnie Colgan |
| 9 | Adis | 8 | Ruakaka filly Adis (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) is another runner with just three starts under her belt, picking up two thirds before a late-finishing seventh. | Donna Logan & Chris Gibbs | |
| 10 | Grand Soleil | 6 | Savabeel filly Grand Soleil (NZ) has finished sixth, fourth and third in her three starts so far. | Tony Pike | |
| 11 | She Brings Joy | 3 | Trained by Stephen Marsh, who won this race last year with Filly of the Year Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi), the Sebring filly She Brings Joy (NZ) finished third and sixth in her first two starts before a fast-finishing seventh in the Eight Carat Classic. | Stephen Marsh | |
| 12 | Arctic Miss | 11 | Bachelor Duke filly Arctic Miss (NZ) has had five starts so far with a fifth placing her best result. | Graeme Sanders & Debbie Sweeney |