Miss Federer (NZ) Clinches Southern Filly Title

Classy Riccarton filly Miss Federer (NZ) (Swiss Ace) has been confirmed as the 2019-20 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year.

Trainer Andrew Carston paid just $10,000 to buy Miss Federer in Book 2 of Karaka 2018, and his stable star scored impressive victories in both of the first two legs of the Southern Filly of the Year Series – the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton, and the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.

Racing in New Zealand is currently suspended due to the COVID-19 lockdown, and New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing has announced that July 1 is currently the targeted date for a resumption. With races initially being run over shorter distances, the remaining two legs of the Series – the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) and Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) – will be unable to be scheduled before the end of the 2019-20 racing season.

Miss Federer finishes with a perfect score of 14 points. All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing) was runner-up in both legs and earned 8 points, while Trifolium (Krupt) and Woodcote Lass (NZ) (Showcasing) collected 2 points each with their third placings.

The award for NZB Southern Filly of the Year will be presented to Miss Federer’s connections at the South Island Racing Awards and they will also receive an insurance policy from NZB Insurance to the value of $50,000 + GST.

Miss Federer has won five of her 12 starts to date, earning $160,385 in stakes for owners Mark and Dawn Dowling, Clint and Jill Tauri, Russell and Ros McClean, Dave and Jill MacGibbon, Brian and Margaret Sheppard, Beau and Ann Trevathan, Lindsay and Kaz Harliwich, Joy Isaacs, Janice Banks and Terry Williamson.

“This is a great result for her connections, and we're very happy,” Carston said.

“We would have preferred to win the Series the proper way, but in saying that, I don't think anyone can dispute that she's been the best filly in the South Island this season. There were two races in the Series, and she won them both.

“She was the South Island's champion two-year-old last season, and she's gone on to be the South Island's best three-year-old filly.

“From a relatively cheap purchase, she's done a massive job for her owners.”