Full Field Set to Contest Eulogy

The Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni on Saturday will provide the fourth instalment in New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series with a full field set to contest the $75,000 purse.

Last year the race was won by the eventual Series winner Insouciant (Keeper x Loudenne by Palace Music). She, as did current Series leader Daffodil (No Excuse Needed x Spring by O'Reilly) claimed the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas in their lead up to the race.

Bred and raced by Waikato Stud proprietors Garry and Mark Chittick, Daffodil currently heads Saturday's field and comes off the back of a mid-field result in the Group 1 First Sovereign Trust Levin Classic after being stuck wide throughout in a speedily run race.

She is trained in Palmerston North by Kevin Gray who reports that she came through her Levin Classic run in good order. Gray added "I couldn't be happier with her going into the race, she's at the same weight she won at in Christchurch and her work this morning was excellent".

Daffodil's lightly tried stable mate, Priceless Pearl (No Excuse Needed x Centolde by Centaine) is considered by Gray to also have a strong chance in the race, if she can see out the mile.

Mark Chittick also owns the David Haworth-trained Bird (Danasinga x Quiescent by Gleam Machine) who in her three starts to date has shown plenty of talent, running on impressively in her last two starts to notch up a win and a close second.

The Rogerson, Lucock and Bergerson-trained Awesome Planet (Giant's Planet x Dance on the Moon by Fasliyev) will be looking to add more Series points to her tally. She finished 2.8 lengths third to Daffodil in the NZB One Thousand Guineas, adding to her four from winning the Listed Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie to see her sitting in third spot on 7.5 points.

The Cambridge stable of Murray and Bjorn Baker is represented by the winner of her last two starts, Alagant Satin (Al Akbar x Glowing Satin by Noble Bijou) with the services of Jason Jago booked for the ride.

Karen Zimmerman's hope Xpectation (Towkay x Wooden Doll by Woodborough) found form last start, digging deep to win at Trentham over the mile on Saturday. Robbie Hannam has the ride from barrier 12.

Also coming off the back of a last start victory is Gerald Innes' Seathepost (Postponed x Comb the Seas by Prince Salieri). Showing off her speedy turn of foot she finished six lengths clear of her nearest rival in the Awasi NZ Ltd Sprint (1400m) at Waipukurau last Sunday.

Riccarton based Shane Kennedy is sending his talented filly Missarooy Belle (Van Nistelrooy x Palliser Belle by Jetball) across the Cook Strait looking for some valuable black-type. From the famous Belle family and bred by Curraghmore Stud in conjunction with Peter and Philip Vela, she's had three starts for a debut second and two wins. Pukekohe apprentice Danielle Johnson is booked for the ride, hoping to overcome drawing barrier 17.

Winner of the Group 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes as a juvenile, Te Akau Coup (Thorn Park x Beyond the Sunset by Gone West), will jump from barrier two for Mark Walker with Kelly Myers in the saddle.

Looking for less traffic problems this time is the Bromley Bloodstock-owned Sharp Princess (Pins x She's Snubbed by O'Reilly) for Fraser Auret. Showing plenty of talent to date, she will be having just her third raceday start.

Rounding off the field is Netravati (Success Express x Red Mariete by Red Ransom) for Leanne Bertling, Lisa Latta's Can't Keeper Down (Keeper x Ashley Downs by Grosvenor), John Sargent's Voyeur (Volksraad x Dominatrix by Marauding), Ilone Kelly's� Javaloushe (Black Minnaloushe x Java Silk by Kashani), the Wayne and Vanessa Hillis-trained Puttanesca (Bertolini x Tesoro by Prized), Broker's Dream (Elusive City x Straight Cut Jeans by Straight Strike) for Bill Thorlow, Broadway Miss (O'Reilly x Montaine by Centaine) for Lance Noble and the local filly Cassini (Reset x Mathematical by Honor Grades) for Mark Oulaghan.

Six points will be up for grabs for first spot with three to the second placegetter and 1.5 for third. The next in the ten-race Series is the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Click here for more information on the NZB Filly of the Year Series.