Warstep Stakes to Decide NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series
20 April 2023
With three fillies deadlocked at the top of the points table after three of the four legs of the 2022-23 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, it all comes down to Saturday’s fourth and final leg – the $65,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton.
The three races staged so far have produced three different winners, along with six different second and third placegetters.
Centre: Romancing the Moon (NZ)
Right: Miss Layla (NZ)
Equal leaders with 7 points are the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) winner One Kiss (NZ) (Tivaci), Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) winner Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca), and last weekend’s Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) heroine Miss Layla (NZ) (Burgundy).
Another three fillies are tied just behind them with 4 points each – Perfectly Suited (NZ) (Savile Row), Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star) and Luella Cristina (Snitzel) – while Kikimora (NZ) (Shamexpress), Miss Dunsford (Dissident) and Madame Giselle (NZ) (Time Test) take up the other three spots on the table with 2 points apiece.
Like the previous three races in the series, the Warstep Stakes is worth a crucial 7 points to the winner, with 4 points for second and 2 for third.
Miss Layla, Betty Spaghetti, Luella Cristina, Miss Dunsford and Madame Giselle are all taking their place in the starting gate on Saturday and shooting for Southern Filly Series glory.
However, even if another three different fillies fill the top three placings, the Warstep Stakes will still decide who takes the coveted title – in the event of a tie at the top of the points table, the filly with the best finishing position in the Warstep Stakes will be declared the winner.
In addition to having a trophy presented to connections at the South Island Racing Awards, the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year winner will also receive an insurance policy from NZB Insurance to the value of $50,000 plus GST.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes will be run as Race 8 at Riccarton on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 3.18pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
| 1 | Inflamed | 15 | Promising filly Inflamed (NZ) (Ghibellines) is a daughter of Ortem Fire (NZ) (Gallant Guru), who was runner-up in this race in 2012. Inflamed was unplaced in her first three attempts at black-type level, but a dominant last-start victory over 1600 metres at Riverton suggested that longer distances might unlock her potential. | ||
| 2 | Luella Cristina | 5 | By champion sire Snitzel out of multiple Group One winner Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), northern raider Luella Cristina has already made her mark all the way up to the highest level - finishing third in last month's Group One Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham. She was a beaten favourite in last Saturday's Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m), where she was held up at the top of the straight before working home strongly to finish second. She has 4 NZB Southern Filly Series points to her name. | ||
| 3 | Miss Layla | 10 | $20,000 Karaka 2021 purchase Miss Layla (NZ) (Burgundy) went into last weekend's Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) as the least experienced runner in the field, and she came out of it as an equal leader in the NZB Southern Filly Series with 7 points. Making only the third start of her career, Miss Layla scored a highly impressive black-type win and announced herself as a filly to follow. | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | Robert Dennis Racing, $20,000 |
| 4 | Family Ties | 6 | One of a long line of stakes performers purchased from Karaka by Te Akau Racing's David Ellis, Family Ties (NZ) (Contributer) was bought for $60,000 from the 2021 Ready to Run Sale. She won the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) in February, then was an unlucky sixth in the Group Two Lowland Stakes (2100m) and ran eighth in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m). She was doing her best work late when seventh in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m), and the extra distance of this race should work in her favour. | 2021 Ready to Run Sale | DC Ellis, $60,000 |
| 5 | Miss Dunsford | 2 | Miss Dunsford (Dissident) began her career in Australia, where she won on debut at Pakenham and later placed at Group Three level in Adelaide. Since crossing the Tasman, Miss Dunsford has had six starts for a win and three placings. She ran third in last month's Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), earning 2 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series, and she was a close sixth in the NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m). | ||
| 6 | Stolen Decree | 12 | An impressive winner by more than two lengths at Ashburton on April 5, Stolen Decree (NZ) (War Decree) stepped up to stakes company in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) and finished ninth. She was crowded at the start and lost ground, then over-raced through the middle stages. Extra distance may help her chances. | ||
| 7 | Betty Spaghetti | 9 | Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star) earned 4 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series with her second placing in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) in early March. She was a close fifth in last Saturday's Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m). Betty Spaghetti was a $20,000 purchase from Karaka 2021 and has earned $38,680 in stakes. | Karaka 2021, Book 1 | Robert Dennis Racing, $20,000 |
| 8 | Madame Giselle | 17 | Madame Giselle (NZ) (Time Test) added to an outstanding result for trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong in last Saturday's Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m), finishing powerfully into third behind her winning stablemate Miss Layla (NZ) (Burgundy). Madame Giselle has earned 2 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series, and she looks likely to be suited by the step up to 2000 metres. | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | Champagne Racing Stables, $80,000 |
| 9 | Alminette | 11 | One of the eye-catching runners in last Saturday's Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) was Alminette (NZ) (Burgundy), who overcame a bump at the home turn to finish strongly into fourth. Bought for $52,500 by David Ellis from Book 2 of Karaka 2021, Alminette has had seven starts for a win and four placings. | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | DC Ellis, $52,500 |
| 10 | Doddle | 1 | Doddle (NZ) (Dundeel) made a big impression with a win and two placings from her first three starts, making her one of the favourites for last Saturday's Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m). But she was her own worst enemy, over-racing badly before fading out of contention in the straight. | Karaka 2021, Book 1 | Brewers Bloodstock, $20,000 |
| 11 | She's A Con | 4 | Riverton filly She's A Con (NZ) (Contributer) has produced big finishes over 1600 metres in all of her last five starts, including a last-start victory on her home track. The step up to 2000 metres looks ideal. | ||
| 12 | Generation Joy | 8 | Fifth in the Dunedin Guineas (1500m) and ninth in the Southland Guineas (1600m), Generation Joy (NZ) (Ghibellines) dropped to maiden grade and romped to victory by more than three lengths at Wingatui on March 20. The 2000 metres of this race looks well within her range. | ||
| 13 | Sestina | 14 | Sestina (NZ) (Lonhro) was bred by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay and is out of a half-sister to Group One performer Fencing (Street Cry). From eight starts, Sestina has recorded a win and two placings. | ||
| 14 | Chapinteel | 13 | A three-quarter sister to multiple Group One winner Sangster (NZ) (Savabeel), the lightly raced Chapinteel (NZ) (Savabeel) was unplaced on debut in December but produced a strong finish into second when she returned to the racetrack on April 5. | ||
| 15 | Seven Eleven | 7 | Proisir filly Seven Eleven (NZ) has shown promise in her 11-start career, recording a second, a third, three fourths and a fifth. | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | Go Racing, $100,000 |
| 16 | Za Beauteous | 16 | Za Beauteous (NZ) (Derryn) is one of the few fillies in this line-up to have already tackled a middle distance, finishing second over 2200 metres at Ascot Park on April 2. | ||
| 17 | Eccellenza | 3 | Zacinto filly Eccellenza (NZ) has been unplaced in all of her six starts to date and will need to improve to figure in the finish here. |