Super Field Set for Soliloquy Stakes

The second leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series – the $50,000 Listed Macleans Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie on Saturday – has drawn a strong field of 15 fillies that are all in search of their first Series points.

The first leg of the ten-race Series, the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes, saw Pure Elegance take the early lead with six points and the winner of Saturday’s Soliloquy Stakes will earn four points, taking them straight into second place.

Heading the field is the Roger James trained Misstrum (Stratum) who will race in the Haunui Farm colours fresh up. She has won at Ellerslie before at her last start at two in the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m). Jockey Leith Innes rode her to victory in that race and he is booked to ride again from barrier 4.  

Trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman will have two runners in the race with Twilight Granita (Iffraaj) and Decorah (Pins).

Twilight Granita was tough when winning the Listed Fordell O’Leary Fillies Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui on 8 September, her first outing for the season, having to cover a lot of ground from her wide draw. She has drawn out wide again in barrier 13 for Saturday’s race with Jason Waddell to ride.

Lightly raced Decorah didn’t receive all favours when running fifth in the Fillies Stakes, beaten less than three lengths, and has also drawn wide in barrier 15, with Sam Spratt aboard.

Iffraaj sired the quinella in the Fillies Stakes with only a nose separating his daughters, with Kisses run down by Twilight Granita in the final strides after racing on the pace and looking prominent in the straight. Trained by Mark Fraser-Campin & Chris Campin, Kisses has fared better than her rival in the Soliloquy Stakes draw and will be ridden by Trudy Thornton from barrier 6.

Trainers Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue have two fillies in the race with Best Command (Court Command) who ran third in the Fillies Stakes after a three-length win on debut at Taupo, and Kelly O'Reilly (O’Reilly) who also won on debut at Taupo at her last start by two-and-a-quarter lengths.

The Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young trained Hollywood Angel (Dehere) and Ray's Girl (Savabeel) from Rudy Liefting’s yard were both last out of the gates in the Listed Fillies Stakes and both raced well to finish three and four lengths respectively from the winner.

Hollywood Angel was particularly impressive two starts ago when breaking her maiden by over five lengths and the pair will have their shot at redemption on Saturday from barriers 10 and 1 respectively.

Pure Elegance (Redoute’s Choice) carried the Pencarrow colours to victory in the first leg of the Filly of the Year Series and Pencarrow Racing will have two fillies in Saturday’s race, the Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie trained North of Sunset (Red Ransom) and the Lance Noble trained Elysium (O’Reilly).

With just two raceday appearances under her belt, Elysium looked impressive when winning on debut in late August by two-and-a-half lengths but had an interrupted trip in the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes behind the unbeaten Sacred Falls (O’Reilly) at her last start.

Just once to the races, North Of Sunset ran an eye-catching fourth on debut behind rival Kelly O’Reilly after being caught back in running and has drawn well for Saturday’s race in barrier 3 with Samantha Collett to ride.

Aptly named Perfect Start (Perfectly Ready) has done just that, kicking off her career with a debut win over 1200 metres at her last start for trainers Vanessa & Wayne Hillis.

Regalia (Duelled) has never finished further back than fourth in her five career starts and broke her maiden two starts ago at Taupo for trainers Graeme & Debbie Rogerson. She has drawn mid-field in barrier 7 with Rory Hutchings in the saddle.

The Street Sense filly Superefficient will carry the Cambridge Stud colours for trainer Don Sellwood and comes into the race after two placings at Te Aroha and will have the services of Opie Bosson from barrier 11.

The Gary Alton trained Marmi (Lion Heart) and Universal (Lucky Unicorn) for Stephen Autridge also come into the race off last start seconds. Marmi will line up as a four start maiden and will have every chance from her good draw of two. Universal ran behind rival Elysium on debut and produced a well fought second placing at her last start over 1200 metres. She has drawn mid-field in barrier eight.

The winner of the Listed Macleans Soliloquy Stakes will earn 4 points in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series with second place earning 2 points and third 1 point. The next race in the Series will be the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas at Riccarton on 17 November.

To view the points table and race schedule for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, click here.