NZB Filly of the Year Series Continues With Desert Gold Stakes

26 January 2017

There is the potential for more major movement on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year points table when the sixth leg of the Series, the $70,000 Group 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), is run at Trentham on Saturday.

For the second race in a row, the top two fillies on the leader board are absent. Group 3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes and Group 2 Eight Carat Classic winner Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) is running instead in the NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO Mile at Ellerslie on Sunday, while Group 1 gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas heroine La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) is being prepared for a Sydney autumn campaign.

With 14 and 12 points respectively, Volpe Veloce and La Diosa have a clear lead in the Filly of the Year Series. But Saturday’s race offers 6 points to the winner, 3 for second and 1.5 for third, providing the opportunity for other fillies to narrow that gap.

Three runners in Saturday’s field have already earned points in this Series. Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins) has contested four races in the Series and earned 3 points for running second in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes. Rip Into Ghia (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) chased home Volpe Veloce in the Eulogy Stakes and collected 3 points. Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel) ran third in the Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day and picked up 2 points.

Victory in Saturday’s race would move Glass Slipper or Rip Into Ghia into outright third spot on the leader board, while Date Night would share third with the Group 2 Royal Stakes winner She Brings Joy (NZ) (Sebring) who has 8 points.

# Horse Draw Comments Trainer Jockey
1 McPhoebe 14 Makfi filly McPhoebe (NZ) has won three of her eight starts and caught the eye with a strong finish into second over 1400 metres in her most recent appearance. Johno Benner & Hollie Wynyard Mark Du Plessis
2 Devise 6 Devise (NZ) (Darci Brahma) is a half-sister to the Group One performer Zurella (NZ) (Zabeel). She has won two of her four starts, including over this course and distance, and was a fast-finishing fourth in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m). Shaune Ritchie
3 Galloping Gerte 7 Align filly Galloping Gerte (NZ) won back-to-back races in November and December to set up a shot at the Eight Carat Classic, in which she finished a close and respectable sixth. Brian McKeagg Michael McNab
4 Street Ranger 3 Street Ranger (Street Cry) has had three starts for two impressive victories, including a comfortable last-start win at Matamata. Her dam Solvini (NZ) (Bertolini) was a dual Group 3 winner. Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Opie Bosson
5 Date Night 4 Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel), whose dam Dating (NZ) (O'Reilly) won this race in 2011, has had a win and three placings in her six starts. She was a last-start third in the Eight Carat Classic. Graeme & Debbie Rogerson Leith Innes
6 Bonneval 2 A full-sister to stakes winner Imposing Lass (NZ) and a half-sister to stakes winners Lady Cumquat (Duke Of Marmalade) and Full Of Spirit (Flying Spur), Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi) has won one of her three starts so far. Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Matt Cameron
7 Rube Bridges 9 Darci Brahma filly Rube Bridges (NZ) was a surprising and highly impressive winner on New Year's Day at Ellerslie, beating older horses and winners for the first win of her three-start career. Stephen Marsh Danielle Johnson
8 Nicoletta 1 Highly rated filly Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel) won stylishly two starts back and caught the eye with a late-finishing fifth in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) on New Year's Day. Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Michael Coleman
9 Whipped 13 After placing in two of her first four starts, the Kevin Myers-trained Whipped (NZ) (Stravinsky) broke through for a maiden win at Stratford last time out. Kevin Myers
10 Bring To The Block 10 Guillotine filly Bring To The Block (NZ) is a maiden but has recorded two thirds and a fourth from four starts to date. Shane Brown
11 Dreams Of Paris 8 Dreams Of Paris (Dream Ahead) has won one of her three starts and has the services of top jockey Lisa Allpress, who makes a welcome return from a long injury lay-off. Danica Guy Lisa Allpress
12 Princess Sapphire 11 Savabeel filly Princess Sapphire (NZ) was disappointing in the Eight Carat Classic last start but was an impressive maiden winner at Hastings prior to that. Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman Johnathan Parkes
13 Rip Into Ghia 12 Rip Into Ghia (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) is a maiden but has been stakes placed, splitting Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) and Storytime (NZ) (Savabeel) in last month's Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m). Lisa Latta
14 Shared Secrets 5 Nadeem filly Shared Secrets (NZ) is the least experienced runner in this field, with just two starts for a ninth and an eye-catching last-start third.