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New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series springs into action on Saturday with the running of the Group 3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings.
Celebrating its 43rd anniversary, the coveted New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title is awarded to the three-year-old filly who accumulates the most points in the 10-race Series in New Zealand.
This leg, the first in a Series of 10 races, is run over 1200m with the distances increasing throughout the Series and culminating in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks over 2400m at Trentham. Fillies who compete in the Series are awarded points for wins or placings in each race.Saturday’s Gold Trail Stakes has attracted a field of 13 runners looking to earn first points towards the Series, with the winning horse awarded 6 points, runner-up receiving 3 points and 1.5 points in third place.
At the top of the book is stakes-winner Maritimo (NZ) (Pins) for trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson. The daughter of Pins won two of her four starts as a juvenile, including the Listed Wellesley Stakes by an impressive four-and-a-half-lengths and was runner-up in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes. Commencing from barrier 10, Johnathon Parkes will ride Maritimo after being on board in her first stakes win.Stakes placegetter Strata Lady (NZ) (Stratum) will represent Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott’s Wexford Stables in Saturday’s field. A winner on debut, Strata Lady placed third in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes and ran a credible fifth in the Group 1 Diamond Stakes last season. Having ridden the daughter of Stratum in her last two starts, Michael Coleman takes the ride again, drawn barrier 5.
The second runner for the Rogerson stable is Group 2 winning juvenile Serena Miss (NZ) (Iffraaj). The daughter of Iffraaj gained victory in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, defeating race rival Nahema (NZ) (Per Incanto). Leith Innes has been engaged to ride from barrier 8.A winner over 1000m in her two-year-old season, Nahema, a daughter of leading first season sire Per Incanto, was runner-up in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, narrowly beaten by Serena Miss. She will be ridden by Danielle Johnson from barrier 12 for trainer Stephen Marsh.
Another runner for Per Incanto is Lisa Latta’s Bella Court (NZ). Latta trained last year’s NZB Filly of the Year with Platinum Witness (California Dane). Winning over 1200m earlier in the year and recording a fifth placing in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes, Bella Court will commence from barrier 9 with Kelly Myers taking the mount.The Jenna Mahoney trained High Class (NZ) (Shocking) was an impressive winner on debut as a juvenile and is having her first start as a three-year-old. By Melbourne Cup winning sire Shocking, High Class is out of stakes-winning Mill Duckie (Magic Ring), a placegetter on two Group 1 occasions. Champions apprentice rider Rory Hutchings will ride High Class, starting from barrier 4.
Karaka graduate O’Dianne (NZ) (O’Reilly) will be starting her spring campaign on Saturday for the newly formed training partnership Stephen McKee and Eddie Chippendale. Finishing fourth in the $1m Karaka Million, the daughter of Champion Sire O’Reilly will be ridden by regular rider Sam Spratt from barrier 3.Debut winner Love Triangle (NZ) (Encosta de Lago) created a big impression with victory three weeks ago at Ruakaka, winning over 1200m on a dead track. Carrying the world famous Coolmore colours, New Zealand’s leading jockey of last season Matthew Cameron takes the second ride, commencing from barrier 1 for Te Akau Racing’s trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.
Resuming to racing following a winning two-year-old season is Sally’s Mustang (Nicconi) from Shaune Ritchie’s Cambridge stable. Having one start for one win, Sally’s Mustang will have her first start as a three-year-old from barrier 11 for leading New Zealand jockey Opie Bosson.A half-sister to five-time Group 1 winner Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park), Miss Wilson (Stratum) has had one start as a three-year-old, following a fourth finish in the Listed Star Way Stakes as a juvenile. Trained by John Bary, she will start on her home track from barrier 6 for jockey Johnathan Riddell.
Entering the race as a maiden is Stacey Ann (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) for trainer Darrell Hollinshead. The daughter of Mastercraftsman made three appearances as a two-year-old and resumed to the track for one start as a three-year-old. She has drawn the outside barrier of 13 with Daniel Hain aboard.The Jim Wallace trained Bellissimo (NZ) (Showcasing) has had just one raceday appearance, as a three-year-old at Hawke’s Bay. The daughter of Champion First Season Sire Showcasing, Bellissimo will have Lisa Allpress take her first ride on the filly from barrier 2.
The final filly in the racebook is the locally trained Iff So Happens (NZ) (Iffraaj) having her first start on Saturday. With just one trial to show as a two-year-old, the daughter of Iffraaj will commence from barrier 7 for trainer John Moeke.