Madam Crowned NZB Southern Filly of the Year

A dominant display by Madam Victoria (NZ) (High Chaparral) in the Listed $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton has secured the three-year-old filly the coveted New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year crown.

Madam Victoria (NZ) successful in the Listed NZB Warstep Stakes.  Photo courtesy of Race Images Chch Ltd.

Leading into the race the High Chaparral filly already had one hand on the title with 14 points in the Series having won two of the three races in the Series, so the best any horse in Saturday’s field could do was to equal her with a win.

There was to be no upset as the two challengers to her crown, Silhouette Noir (Dane Shadow) and Orovela (NZ) (Saperavi), both failed to fire and finished unplaced.

The Terri Rae trained Madam Victoria did fire and she shot away from the field under a hands and heels ride from Darryl Bradley to score a decisive 4.5 length victory in the testing Heavy 10 track conditions.  Porotene Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) held off Include (NZ) (Gallant Guru) to finish second and third respectively.

Madam Victoria collected a further 7 points in the Southern Filly of the Year Series for her win, taking her tally to 21 points. Porotene Park added 3 points to the solitary point she earned last week in the Series and finished with 4 points, and Include earned her first point in the Series for finishing third.

“The only concern was if she would handle the track, it was really wet,” commented Rae. “She handled it well though and it was a brave win coming off a quick back up as well. Those races are close together so she has done well.

“It is great for the owners, they bred her and it is not an easy game the breeding game and they are absolutely wrapped.

“What she will do now is all a little up in the air, she has only just had her first race in November so she has done all of this on one racing preparation. This is what we targeted for her. There are thoughts of going to the Queensland Oaks but she is getting close to the end of it and has done a really great job.”

“She is a little bit weak and with those races only a week apart she has dropped a bit of weight but she has a really bright future ahead of her. She is in the paddock at the moment but we will see what she is like at the end of the week and talk to the owners to decide what is best for the horse.”

Saturday’s win was the fifth win from six raceday appearances for Madam Victoria with her only defeat coming when she was an unlucky fourth in the Listed Gore Guineas. She has won three Listed races, all a part of the Southern Filly of the Year Series, and has earned $100,310 in prizemoney for her breeders & owners B W & Mrs R A Wilson.

Madam Victoria is out of the seven-time winner Royal Madam (Personal Escort). She is from the family of South Island stakes winners Nearly’s Pal (Palatable) and Bashful Lady (Imperial Guard).

The Warstep Stakes was the final leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013/14 Southern Filly of the Year Series with Madam Victoria adding her name to the honour roll alongside the likes of Besty Coup, Tonic, Ombre Rose and Belmont Cat.