Two-Way Tie for NZB Southern Filly Series

Promising filly Madam Victoria (NZ) (High Chaparral) has gone to equal top of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Leaderboard with success in the Listed $50,000 NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Saturday.

Madam Victoria (NZ) successful in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes at Wingatui.

Having just her fourth career start, the daughter of High Chaparral was a winner of her first two starts before finishing fourth in the Listed Gore Guineas.

Trained by Terri Rae, Madam Victoria settled mid-field for visiting North Island rider Darryl Bradley. The filly travelled sweetly approaching the straight and cruised to the front as the field swung for the run home.

Stablemate Silhouette Noire (Dane Shadow) chased hard but Madam Victoria went to the line with her ears pricked to win by 1.3 lengths, collecting 7 points in the Series, Silhouette Noire earning 3 points for her second placing and Gallant Ruby (NZ) (Gallant Guru) finished third to receive 1 point.

“She is certainly well above average,” stated Rae. “At her last start she actually pulled a muscle over her backend, she didn’t tie up. She was in season and the vet down there thought she had tied up.

“We actually put her out after that and thought we would start from the beginning again. We were pretty confident on Saturday, she is pretty classy.

“She is just in the paddock at the moment, she will have five days there then will come back in and target the other two races in the Series – the mile and 2000m at Riccarton. They are at her home track so she won’t have to travel which will be a little bit easier on her.

“She will enjoy the step up in ground being by High Chaparral, she is reasonably settled and has quite a good temperament as well which will help her.”

The victory on Saturday was the third for Madam Victoria who has accumulated $44,060 for her owners B W & Mrs R A Wilson, who also bred the filly.

Madam Victoria’s dam Royal Madam (Personal Escort) was a seven-time winner in the South Island and is closely related to the multiple stakes winners Nearly Pal’s (Palatable) and Bashful Lady (Imperial Guard).

There is a tie at the top of the Southern Filly of the Year Leaderboard with Madam Victoria joining Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes winner Orovela (NZ) (Saperavi) on 7 points, Silhouette Noire is in third place on 4 points ahead of Dreamer (NZ) (More Than Ready) on 3 points and Gallant Ruby on 1 point.

The next race in the Series is the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes at Riccarton on 5 April over 1600m before the Series culminates on 12 April with the running of the Listed NZB Warstep Stakes over 2000m, also at Riccarton.