Southern Filly Title Up for Grabs in Warstep

With a number of fillies backing up from last week's Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes, Saturday's $45,000 Listed NZB Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton will be the final leg of the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series.

With the leader board looking top heavy with a three-way tie coming into the concluding leg of the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series, there are a number of chances coming into the race, with five of the eight fillies on the leader board all racing for an outright Series win.

Very impressive in winning the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes last Saturday, Final Touch (Kashani x My Lydia) has raced her way to a share in the lead for her trainers John and Karen Parsons. She has drawn barrier two on Saturday, and comes into the race in hot form with back to back wins.

Winning from much the same position as Final Touch last week was the John Sargent trained No Choice (Coats Choice x Winkum) who stormed home in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) to claim her share of the Series lead. She had a tough ask in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes last Saturday, drawing the widest barrier of 16 and running very wide on the turn. It will be of little surprise to see her bounce back here and she will have better claims on Saturday from barrier 12.

I'm Your Venus (Show a Heart x Oaky Miss) has been racing well and produced a good performance in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes running second from her wide draw of 14. With a consistent record on the track, she will be having her first crack at the 2000 metres for her trainers Mandy and Matt Brown.

The Tony Bambry trained Ormond Road (City on a Hill x Pub Singa) comes into the race after a promising performance in the Listed Manawatu Breeders Stakes behind the smart filly Scarlett Lady. She has drawn barrier six and will be making her debut South Island appearance.

The Adrian Bull trained So Divine (High Chaparral x Argante) looks to be a filly on the up. She is a full-sister to the dual Group 1 winner and sire Monaco Consul and has been racing in strong company despite only having four race day starts. She comes into the race after running third to Starcheeka in the Group 3 Manawatu Classic and looks well-placed here.

The Oaks runner Classy Matter (Senor Pete x Things That Matter) has had a tough time in her last two starts but has some ability on the track, winning three of her eight starts. She has a strong course record and the trip is unlikely to pose too many questions.

Michael Pitman has a strong hand in the race with three runners who are all backing up from last week. Miss Maximuss (Castledale x Missprynt) put on a good show in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes, leading for much of the race and putting up a good fight in the straight. She is currently sitting behind the leaders with four points in the Series.

Peace (Ishiguru x Emerald) is the highest rated of Pitman's fillies and will be looking to make the most of her wide barrier of 18. Aluminium Bikerack (Fantastic Light x Clerihew) didn't get all favours in transit in the NZB Airfreight Stakes, travelling wide for much of the race, and has a tough draw of 17 for Saturday.

Murray and Bjorn Baker will have a runner in the race with Fast Love (Fastnet Rock x Make Me Dream) who comes into the race after running a close second at Whakatane last week. She has been tried over the distance and has drawn barrier 10.

Steve Anderton has two fillies in the race both backing up from last week; The Glitzy One (Flying Spur x The Jewel) and The Solitaire (O'Reilly x The Dazzler). With both runners finding racing room late in the straight, they both ran on well, finishing not far from the first three home.

Two interesting runners in the race are Galshaan (Galileo x Darlya) trained by Jason Bridgman, and the Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie trained Dolmabache (Redoute's Choice x Our Echezeaux).

Galshaan has only had the two starts but won by three lengths at her last appearance at Riccarton over the mile. The race is a big step up in class but she brings an interesting element to the contest.

Dolmabache has been racing in some tough company recently and has had a brief break from the races and comes into this off a winning trial performance. She too has raced over some ground and is another to keep a sharp eye on. The pair have both drawn well for the race.

The Andrew Scott trained She's a Cougar (One Cool Cat x Smooch) and the Brian and Shane Anderton trained Jaylah (Yamanin Vital x Ebony Bijou) both come into the race after putting in good performances at their last starts. Jaylah will be looking to make the most of his wide barrier of 15 while She's a Cougar has drawn the ideal alley of five.

Fireside (Thorn Park x Glenview Lass) and Flying Petal (Bunker x Flying Benie) make up the ballots for the race.

The $45,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) is the last race in the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series. To view the current leader board for the Series, click here. Gates will open in the fillies feature at Riccarton at 2.41pm.