Southern Filly Series Gets Underway This Saturday

17 September 2003

The first race of the 2003-04 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series is set to go this Saturday with a field of 15 accepting for the New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at the Canterbury Jockey Club.

The Southern Filly of the Year Series comprises four races for 3YO fillies, each of Listed status run from September through to May.

Saturday's field of smart fillies includes stakes performers such as the Peter and Dawn Williams trained Azure, Kevin Hughes trained Eternal Melody, Tom and Lyn Prendergast trained Lady Libertine and Mark Walker trained Spur Bird.

The field for Saturday's New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes is as follows:

Azure (Kingfisher Mill x Laune) 9 starts for 1 win, 1 second and 1 third as a 2YO and 1 third as a 3YO. Azure was second in the Listed ARC Great Northern Foal Stakes.

Classic Clare (Gold Brose x Funny Features) 6 starts for 1 win and 2 thirds as a 2YO and 1 win as a 3YO. Classic Clare won her 3YO debut in the CJC Tuscany Flyer at Prebbleton Farm 3YO Handicap.

Danamac (Danasinga x Lady Canteloupe) 5 starts. Unplaced as a 2YO, 1 win as a 3YO. Danamac won her second start as a 3YO in the Oamaru JC Friday Flash Maiden Stakes in late August.

Eternal Melody (Shinko King x Billie Holiday) 5 starts for 1 win, 1 second and 1 third as a 2YO. Won the Listed, CJC South Island 2YO Stakes and was second in the Listed, CJC Welcome Stakes.

Free Sea (Racers Edge x Kythera) 1 start for 1 second as a 3YO earlier this month.

Gulfstream (Yachtie x Impassion) 1 start for 1 third as a 3YO at the Canterbury JC meeting earlier this month.

Lady Libertine (Tuscany Flyer x Liberty Rose) 5 starts as a 2YO for 2 wins, 1 second and 1 third. Second in the Listed Otago RC Champagne Stakes.

Peak Time (Straight Strike x Casino Pass) 2 starts. Unplaced as a 2YO and has had 1 win on her 3YO debut in the Ashburton RC Cavendish Lime Maiden S.

Sea Storm (Singingintherain x Vase) 7 starts. Unplaced as a 2YO and 1 win and 1 second as a 3YO. Sea Storm won the CJC Southern Trust Maiden S at her last start earlier this month.

Siena (Volksraad x Amatrice) Unraced as a 2YO. 1 start as a 3YO earlier this month where she ran fourth.

Snipight (Snippets x Spectacular Light) 8 starts for 1 win, 2 seconds and 1 third as a 2YO. Won on her 3YO debut at Canterbury earlier this month.

Snow Fields (Groom Dancer x Oakfields) 6 starts for 2 thirds as a 2YO.

Spur Bird (Flying Spur x Auptag) 8 starts for 2 wins and 1 second as a 2YO and 1 second as a 3YO recently behind Snipight. Second in the Listed Waikato RC Fairview Ford Stakes.

Thanksgiving (Generous x The World Is Mine) First Start.

Jet Stream Belle (Jetball x Vera's Queen) 2 starts for 1 win as a 2YO.

Last year's race was won by Flying Coup (Tuscany Flyer x Blue Blarney), with Mighty Myrtle (O'Reilly x Diamond Granny) taking second place and The Jewel (O'Reilly x The Grin) last season's eventual Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock On Thousand Guineas winner, in third.

The points available for Saturday's race are 7 points for first, 3 points for second and 1 points for third.

The 2003-2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series can be followed by viewing www.nzb.co.nz where the points table for each series is regularly updated after each race.