Imelda Mary (NZ) Defends Filly of the Year Series Lead in Lowland
25 February 2019
With two Group 2 wins and 16 points already to her name, Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax) will attempt to maintain her New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series lead in Wednesday’s eighth leg – the $100,000 Group 2 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings.
Purchased for just $3,500 at the 2017 Festival Sale at Karaka, Imelda Mary has won the $100,000 Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic (2000m). She has earned $168,850 for Matamata trainer Wayne Hillis and his co-owners Chris Delamore and Ross Robertson.
Her 16 points give her a four-point lead in the Filly of the Year Series.
Second-placed Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) is not in Wednesday’s race, but Queen Of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel) and Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto) are breathing down the table-topper’s neck. They have each earned 10 points so far, and the 8 points available to Wednesday’s winner would be enough to give either of them the lead if Imelda Mary is unplaced.
Adding further interest to the field, Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man) and Jakkalbomb (NZ) (Jakkalberry) are recent black-type placegetters looking to make further progress up the Filly of the Year Series leaderboard.
The Lowland Stakes will be run as Race 7 on Wednesday with a start time of 5:56pm.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Imelda Mary | 7 | $3,500 Karaka yearling purchase Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax) has been a summer star among New Zealand's three-year-old filly ranks. After a close fifth in the Group 1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas, she has won the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic (2000m). She was also a close eighth in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m). | Wayne Hillis | Cameron Lammas |
| 2 | Queen Of Diamonds | 11 | Beautifully bred Savabeel filly Queen of Diamonds (NZ) burst to prominence in the spring with a victory in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m), and since then she has been third in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), fourth in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic and third in the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic. | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Matt Cameron |
| 3 | Secret Allure | 10 | Representing the same trainer and owners as last season's Filly of the Year Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy), the Zacinto filly Secret Allure (NZ) won the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and finished fourth in the 1000 Guineas and second in the Royal Stakes. She was a last-start seventh in the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic. | Lisa Latta | Jonathan Riddell |
| 4 | Sentimental Miss | 13 | Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man) was a maiden winner at Otaki in November. Since then she has been third in the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m), fifth in the Eulogy Stakes, sixth in the Desert Gold Stakes and a strong-finishing second in the Sir Tristram Fillies' Classic earlier this month. | Lisa Latta | Jason Waddell |
| 5 | Miss Labasa | 6 | Swiss Ace filly Miss Labasa (NZ) made a big impression winning all of her first three starts, then over-raced in front before fading to 11th in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic - finishing 4.6 lengths from the winner. She has placed in a trial since then. | John Bary | Johnathan Parkes |
| 6 | Jakkalbomb | 1 | Taranaki filly Jakkalbomb (NZ) (Jakkalberry) made a winning debut on her home track in November. She has placed in four of her five starts since then, including the Desert Gold Stakes and the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m). | Janelle Millar | Rosie Myers |
| 7 | Lady In Lace | 12 | Lady In Lace (NZ) (Pins) has had six starts for a win and three placings, and she was a close fifth in the Desert Gold Stakes. | David & Emma Haworth | Craig Grylls |
| 8 | Stilton | 14 | Savabeel filly Stilton (NZ) has had a win and a placing from five starts, most recently a maiden win at Te Teko. This is her first start at stakes level. | Graham Richardson & Gavin Parker | Lynsey Satherley |
| 9 | Vee Cece | 4 | Vee Cece (Canford Cliffs) has had just four starts, picking up a win, a placing and an eye-catching sixth in the Oaks Prelude. | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Troy Harris |
| 10 | Allacciato | 2 | Locally trained filly Allacciato (NZ) (Niagara) has had a win and three placings from five starts. Her only unplaced finish was a strong-finishing seventh in the Listed El Roca-Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) in the spring. | Guy Lowry & Grant Cullen | |
| 11 | Miss Valencia | 8 | A winner and placegetter in her only two starts last season, Miss Valencia (NZ) (Ocean Park) has had four starts as a three-year-old for a seventh, a fourth, a sixth and a 12th in the Desert Gold Stakes. | Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard | Chris Johnson |
| 12 | Nerve Not Verve | 3 | A half-sister to this season's Group 2 winner Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant), talented filly Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking) is still a maiden but has placed in two of her three starts. | Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard | Jake Bayliss |
| 13 | Shezathinka | 9 | From the powerful Te Akau stable, Shezathinka (NZ) (So You Think) has had five starts for four placings. | Jamie Richards | Opie Bosson |
| 14 | Let Me Tell Ya | 5 | Let Me Tell Ya (NZ) (The Factor) has had seven starts for two thirds, three fourths and a close seventh in the Listed 3YO Salver (2100m). | Stephen Marsh |