Ready for Penultimate Race of Southern Filly Series
9 April 2015
The third leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year Series will run this Saturday at Riccarton with the Listed $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m).
A field of 13 fillies will contest Saturday’s race, the second-to-last leg in the Series of four races, in an attempt to accumulate points towards becoming named the Southern Filly of the Year in the 2014-15 season.
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Miss Seton Sands (NZ) winner of the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes. |
Leading the field is Belle Miraaj (NZ) (Iffraaj), trained by Gay Robinson. With a total of nine starts, the daughter of Iffraaj won her first three starts as a two-year-old and returned this season to win the Listed Gore Guineas and the Listed Southland Guineas. Apprentice rider Samantha Wynne takes the ride on Belle Miraaj from barrier 2.
First equal on the Series leaderboard is Miss Seton Sands (Gonski), on seven points, for trainer Steven Woodsford. Totalling four wins, she won her last two starts including the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes, the second leg of the Series, and will be starting from barrier 8 with Racha Cuneen on board.
Carrying Te Akau Racing’s colours is No Tricks (NZ) (Savabeel) for trainer Jason Bridgman. By leading sire Savabeel, No Tricks finished fourth in her last three races, all at stakes level. She will be ridden from barrier 7 by Te Akau Racing’s stable rider Matthew Cameron.
Placing third behind race rival Miss Seton Sands in her last two starts is Querer (NZ) (Captain Rio). Winning three of her eight starts, Querer has placed in a further four places, two at stakes level. Trained by John and Karen Parsons, Chris Johnson rides Querer from barrier 5.
Winner of her last three starts is the Pukekohe trained Somethingvain (NZ) (Falkirk). Trained by the Rogers family, all of her winning races have been over 1400m, breaking her maiden three starts ago by 2.5 lengths. She will have her first start in the South Island with David Walsh riding from barrier 1.
Trained by Robert Patterson, Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) won her last race in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes. With a total of two wins and four placings, Choice will start from barrier 10 with jockey Lisa Allpress.
Running on her home track on Saturday is Starlight Angel (NZ) (Swiss Ace), trained by Kevin and Pam Hughes. Her last start saw her run second to Miss Seton Sands in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes last month after breaking her maiden status the week before. Startlight Angel will begin from barrier 3 with Craig Grylls riding.
Also on three points in the Series is Consensus (NZ) (Postponed), trained by Terri Rae. The Postponed filly has been racing in both the North and South Island and will drop back to 1600m on Saturday after racing over ground lately. Starting from barrier 11, Mark Du Plessis takes the ride.
Breaking her maiden status at the start of the season was La Veuve (NZ) (Iffraaj) from Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong’s stable. Finishing fourth in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes, she has placed second in three other races, including the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes. Starting from barrier 4, apprentice rider Doni Prastiyou will ride La Veuve.
Last start winner Platinum Command (NZ) (Red Giant) tallies a total of two wins and four placings since debuting as a three-year-old. Trained by Lisa Latta, the Red Giant filly will start from barrier 6 with Darryl Bradley taking the mount.
With five raceday appearances, Brilliant Brigitte (NZ) (Alamosa) claimed her first win in a dead heat two starts ago. Running in the money in all of her starts, she will have her first start at stakes level with Kylie Williams riding her from barrier 13 for trainer Karen Zimmerman.
The third Iffraaj filly to gain a start in the race is Petty Thief (NZ) (Iffraaj) for trainer Bill Thurlow. Entering the race as a maiden, Petty Thief will be looking to go one better after finishing second in her last two starts over 1600m. Beginning from barrier 12, Rose Myers takes the ride.
The lightly raced Celtic Lass (NZ) (Fully Fledged) rounds out the field as she attempts to win her first race. Trained by Tarhsa and Michael Stokes, Celtic Lass ran second in her last start and will continue her association with rider Brett Murray, starting from barrier 9.
The winner of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes will receive 7 points towards the Series, second place will earn 3 points and third place earns 1 point.
To view the full field, click here.
The Southern Filly of the Year Leaderboard is currently headed by Darci’s Dream (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and Miss Seton Sands who both have 7 points each. Second equal is Consensus and Starlight Angel on 3 points each, followed by Cryptic (NZ) (Sahkee’s Secret) and Querer with 1 point each.
The final race in the Southern Filly of the Year Series takes place a week from Saturday on 18 April with the running of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m).
To view the Leaderboard or for more information on the Southern Filly of the Year Series, click here.