Gr.3 Eulogy Draws Strong Field

Racing at Awapuni this weekend will see the staging of the fourth leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, the $70,000 Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m), and the field is stacked with talented and highly promising fillies.

New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series has seen some exciting contests from the opening three races of the Series with Anabandana cruising to victory in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes, Holy Moly taking the Listed Soliloquy Lodge Stakes, and current Series leader Planet Rock (on 12 points) winning the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas in a great finish. None of these three line up on Saturday giving ample chance for other fillies to advance up the leaderboard.

Saturday's contest will see trainers Graeme & Debbie Rogerson line up three runners including the smart filly Dowager Queen (NZ) (Sabaveel x Dower) in the number one saddle cloth. She comes into the race after a strong spring preparation which saw her win the Listed O'Leary's Fillies Stakes in New Zealand before an Australian campaign that concluded with a brave second in the Group 1 VRC Oaks (2500m). With Darryl Bradley aboard she's a big chance to get her first points in the Series.

From the same yard, Abeautifulred (Handsome Ransom x You Beauty) could not have been more impressive at her last start second to Planet Rock in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas. She currently holds second place in the Filly of the Year Series with seven points and a win on Saturday - providing six points - would give her the Series lead.

The third of the Rogerson runners is the blueblood filly Joy's Choice (NZ) (Redoute's Choice x Trica Ann), one of two runners in the Cambridge Stud colours. A half-sister to the Group 2 winner La Sizeranne (Stravinsky), she is in good form having won two of her last three starts coming into Saturday's race.

Current Series leader Planet Rock holds off Abeautifulred to win the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

Lisa Latta will saddle up Capital Diamond (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn x Diamond Smile) who will also carry the Cambridge Stud colours. A grand-daughter of the Group 1 winner Diamond Lover, she comes into the race with three third placings in a row, the last coming in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, giving her 3.5 points in the Series.

With three Series points, the Kevin Gray trained Testa Secret (Testa Rossa x Acacian Secret) has been a model of consistency on the track taking two wins and three placings from her six starts. She ran second to Dowager Queen fresh up this season in the Listed O'Leary's Fillies Stakes before running second to Anabandana in the Group 2 Gold Trail Stakes.

The Jason Bridgman trained Kindred (NZ) (Pins x Kind Return) and Zurella (NZ) (Zabeel x Doneze Girl) from Shaune Ritchie's stable are two fillies that look very much on the up.

Both fillies come into the Group 3 off back-to-back wins, and both had to overcome difficult trips in transit to post their latest victories. With Kindred from the Group 1 placed Zabeel mare Kind Return, and Zurella by Zabeel from the family of champion sire Lonhro (Octagonal), they appear to be two serious prospects.

The sire of 43 stakes winners, Pins will also be represented by the Anne Herbert trained Trendy (NZ) (ex Trujillo) who has won two of her five starts. She comes into the race after running a good fourth at Ellerslie late last month.

Wellfield Lodge's sire Handsome Ransom also has two runners, with the lightly raced Unbelieveabelle (NZ) (ex Shona Indre) lining up for trainer Stephen Crutchley. She comes into the race with two wins from seven starts and a fifth at her last outing, the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

A last start winner for trainer Fraser Auret, Jungle Pago (NZ) (Darci Brahma x Climb the Vine) has only had two starts and won her last race at Mastertonafter running third on debut.

The Howie Mathews trained Prepared (NZ) (Perfectly Ready x Suivez Moi) and Reasons Unknown (NZ) (Shinko King x Slice) from Mark Oulaghan's stables come into the Group 3 after last start placings.

Reasons Unknown won her debut three starts ago and put in a big finish last start after a tough trip, and Prepared, despite being a maiden, boasts five placings from six starts and has never finished worse than fourth.

The winner of the $70,000 Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m) will take 6 points in New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, with second place taking 3 points and third 1.5 points.

To view the race schedule and current leader board for New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, click here. The Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes will be held at Awapuni Racecourse at 3.41pm NZ time.