Miss Layla (NZ) Steps Up to the Big Time in NZB Airfreight Stakes

The least experienced filly in the field stole the show in Saturday’s third leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, the $65,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.

It was the second win of a three-start career for Miss Layla (NZ) (Burgundy), who was bought by Robert Dennis Racing for just $20,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2021. The NZB Airfreight Stakes was her first appearance of the Southern Filly Series and her black-type debut, and she now holds an equal lead in the series with 7 points.

Miss Layla made her debut less than a month before Saturday’s Listed success, finishing second at Ashburton on March 16. She followed that up with a win by more than two lengths at the same venue on April 5, and trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong were happy to give her a shot at some valuable early black type.

Miss Layla was more than up for the challenge. Driven forward in the early stages by rider Shankar Muniandy, she raced on the speed throughout and dominated the race from in front.

A powerful kick at the top of the straight carried Miss Layla more than two lengths clear, and she remained out of the reach of the strong-finishing favourite Luella Cristina (Snitzel) to win by a long neck.

With two wins and a placing from three starts, Miss Layla has now earned $47,735 for a big group of owners.

“She travelled well the whole way, and while she was the least experienced in the race, she does have a real touch of class,” Furlong told NZ Racing Desk. “She handled the puggy track quite well and has come a very long way in a short time.”

Miss Layla is one of four winning foals out of La Etoile (NZ) (Thorn Park), who herself won the Group Two Rich Hill Mile (1600m) and finished fourth in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m).

Miss Layla joined the Kennedy-Furlong stable when her purchaser Robert Dennis stepped away from training last year.

“Robert came to us and asked whether we would like to take a couple for him that he had been preparing,” Furlong said. “We were more than happy to and it was obvious quite quickly that this one had a fair bit of ability, which she definitely showed today.”

Miss Layla’s 7 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series give her an equal lead alongside the winners of the two previous legs – One Kiss (NZ) (Tivaci) and Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca).

Saturday’s runner-up Luella Cristina is one of three fillies tied on 4 points, alongside Perfectly Suited (NZ) (Savile Row) and Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star).

The third placegetter in Saturday’s race was Madame Giselle (NZ) (Time Test), who is a stablemate of the winner. She joins Kikimora (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Miss Dunsford (Dissident) on 2 points each.

The Southern Filly Series will be decided in next Saturday’s fourth and final leg, the $65,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton.

Furlong indicated that Madame Giselle might be the more likely of the stable’s two fillies to back up from the NZB Airfreight Stakes.

“We don’t have any plans for Miss Layla at this stage and she might go for a break now, although we won’t decide that until she pulls up,” Furlong said.

“I also thought Madame Giselle also went a beauty. We wanted her ridden a little more positively and she has finished things off nicely. She was really only warming up at the finish, so she needs more ground.

“Depending on how she recovers, she might back up in the Warstep Stakes here next weekend.”

Vendor	Kiltannon Stables Ltd
Purchaser	Robert Dennis Racing (Southland)
Breeding	Burgundy – La Etoile
Sale	Lot 854, Karaka 2021 Book 2, $20,000
Bred by	The Skews Family Trust