The Gift (NZ) Attempts to Break NZB Southern Filly Deadlock

7 April 2021

Series contender The Gift (NZ).

At the halfway point of the 2020-21 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, two fillies share the lead with 7 points apiece. But that could all change in the third leg – the $50,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

The Series began in the spring with a Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) victory by Matchmaker (NZ) (Makfi), who has since relocated to Sydney.

The Robert Dennis-trained The Gift (NZ) (Power) drew level at the top of the table with an impressive performance in last month’s Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), and she returns on Saturday to try to take an outright lead.

But she has a talented field of fillies to face off against, headed by Showemhowitsdone (NZ) (Showcasing), who beat The Gift to win both the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) earlier in the year.

North Island raider Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) was stakes-placed in the spring and has scored impressive wins in both of her last two appearances, while promising local Larpower (NZ) (Power) produced an eye-catching finish for second in the NZB Insurance Stakes. Ocean Point (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Gone With the Wind (NZ) (Sebring) have also placed at black-type level in recent months.

The NZB Airfreight Stakes is worth 7 NZB Southern Filly Series points for the winner, with 4 for second and 2 for third. It will be run as Race 6 at Riccarton on Saturday, with a start time of 3.28pm.

Race Preview

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Horse

Draw

Comments

Trainer

Jockey

1

Showemhowitsdone

7

Raced by Dennis and Sally Mullally, Showemhowitsdone (NZ) (Showcasing) has been a model of consistency this season with three wins, two thirds and two fourths from her 10 appearances. She won the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) in January and Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) in early February, then finished fourth in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) before a close last-start third behind race rival Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) at this track.

Shane Kennedy & Anna Furlong

Terry Moseley

2

The Gift

4

The Gift (NZ) (Power) is the equal leader on the NZB Southern Filly Series table with 7 points, courtesy of a bold last-start victory in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m). She had previously finished second in both the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m), and she has earned more than $82,000 in stakes for a big group of owners.

Robert Dennis

Jacob Lowry

3

Atishu

13

Syndicators Go Racing paid $260,000 to buy Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) from Waikato Stud's draft at Karaka 2019. The blue-blooded filly is out of a full-sister to the multiple Group One winner Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed). Atishu has shown plenty of ability in her own right, placing in four of her first five starts including the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1200m), before scoring impressive back-to-back wins in her last two appearances.

Stephen Marsh

Kozzi Asano

4

Larpower

3

Power filly Larpower (NZ) won all of her first four trials and two raceday starts, then produced a strong finish for second in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) - collecting 4 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series. She was a last-start seventh behind Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) at this course.

Ross Beckett

Kin Kwo

5

Ocean Point

10

Stablemate to NZB Southern Filly Series co-leader The Gift (NZ) (Power), talented filly Ocean Point (NZ) (Ocean Park) has had eight starts for two wins, a third and three fourths. She was a last-start third in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), moving on to the NZB Southern Filly Series table with 2 points.

Robert Dennis

Courtney Barnes

6

Kitty Cugat

5

Kitty Cugat (King Cugat) has shown bright promise with two wins, a second and two fourths from her seven starts so far, and she was close up in sixth in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m).

Terri Rae

Kylie Williams

7

Gone With the Wind

6

Sebring filly Gone With the Wind (NZ) was a $60,000 purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock at Karaka 2019. She scored a maiden win in late December, then collected black-type placings in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) and Listed Southland Guineas (1600m). She was a last-start eighth at this track behind Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel).

Andrew Carston

Chris Johnson

8

Lelawala

2

Bred and part-owned by Phil Proverbs, Lelawala (NZ) (Niagara) has never finished further back than third in her four-start career. She began her career in December with a second placing and a win, then finished third in a $50,000 race during last month's Auckland Cup carnival at Ellerslie. She has had one start in the South Island so far, finishing second behind Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) at Riccarton on March 27.

Chris Wood

Darren Danis

9

Exquisite Pearl

11

North Island visitor Exquisite Pearl (NZ) (Power) has collected a win and three placings from her seven starts so far, and she was also fourth in a strong race won by subsequent Group One winner Bonham (Per Incanto) in the spring.

Fraser Auret

Leah Hemi

10

Gelato

8

Owner-trainer Danny Frye paid just $3,000 to buy Gelato (NZ) (Proisir) from Mansfield Farm's draft at the 2019 South Island Sale. She has had two starts, finishing sixth on debut before earning almost double her purchase price in a two-length win at Ashburton on March 18.

Danny Frye

Rohan Mudhoo

11

Fettercairn

12

Highly Recommended filly Fettercairn (NZ) made a spectacular debut in February, charging home from last for a dominant victory by two and a half lengths at this track. Since then she has finished seventh in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) and a last-start ninth at this venue.

Stephen Marsh

Samantha Wynne

12

Back Hut

14

Although she has yet to win or place in a seven-start career, Back Hut (NZ) (Highly Recommended) has shown real promise, including a close seventh without much luck in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) last start.

Terry Kennedy

Corey Campbell

13

Da Vinci Girl

1

Da Vinci Girl (NZ) (Zacinto) was passed in at Karaka 2019 with a reserve of only $12,000. She has collected five placings from 11 starts to date, including a strong second at Ashburton last start, and she has contested the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).

Michael & Matthew Pitman

Wiremu Pinn

14

Arrowtown

9

Well-related Arrowtown (NZ) is by Tavistock out of Group One performer and black-type producer La Sizeranne (NZ) (Stravinsky). Passed in at Karaka with an $80,000 reserve, Arrowtown has had three starts, finishing second by a nose at Wingatui in the most recent of those on March 22.

Michael & Matthew Pitman

Kavish Chowdhoory