Southern Filly Series Kicks Off in Canterbury Belle Stakes
19 September 2018
Saturday’s $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park marks the beginning of the 19th New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series.
The Series has been held since the 2000-01 season and covers four Listed races over 1200, 1400, 1600 and 2000 metres.
The Canterbury Belle, which has been won by top-class fillies such as the Group 1 winners Tartan Tights (NZ) (Tights), Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed) and La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think), has drawn another quality field this year.
Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins) is held in high regard and scored a powerful come-from-behind win at Riccarton Park two weeks ago. Cambridge trainer Tony Pike has headed south with the talented fillies Wekaforce (NZ) (Showcasing) and Luvlucy (NZ) (Sweet Orange).
The winner of the Canterbury Belle Stakes will receive 7 Southern Filly Series points, with 4 for second and 2 for third.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes will be run as Race 9 on Saturday with a start time of 4.09pm.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Wekaforce | 17 | Speedy filly Wekaforce (NZ) (Showcasing) won by four lengths on debut in May, then failed on a wet track. She bounced back with a last-start second placing behind high-class filly Melt (NZ) (Iffraaj). | Tony Pike | Bridget Grylls |
| 2 | Devil's Staircase | 15 | After being unplaced in both two-year-old starts, Devil's Staircase (NZ) (Pins) resumed with an impressive two-length maiden win at Ashburton on August 30. | Sandy Cunningham | Krishna Mudhoo |
| 3 | Eastern Warrior | 16 | Eastern Warrior (NZ) (Shamoline Warrior) has measured up against strong opposition in her four-start career. She was fourth on debut behind champion two-year-old Avantage (Fastnet Rock), then won at Hastings and finished fifth in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m). She was a last-start third behind race rival Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins) | Peter Rudkin | Tina Comignaghi |
| 4 | Emily Margaret | 1 | Pins filly Emily Margaret (NZ) produced one of the South Island's most impressive performances last start, powering home from last to win over 1000 metres. The $55,000 Select Sale purchase had placed in both of her previous starts. | Kevin & Pam Hughes | Jasmine Fawcett |
| 5 | Pick Me Up In Rio | 7 | The chestnut Pick Me Up In Rio (NZ) (Captain Rio) has had four starts for a win and three placings, including a third behind Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto) and Peaceful (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) over this course and distance. | Kevin James | Kylie Williams |
| 6 | Taree | 9 | Taree (NZ) (Pins) has had one start for one win, scoring over 1150 metres at Waipa on September 7 with a powerful finish. | Tarissa Mitchell | |
| 7 | Miroslava | 13 | Things have gone wrong for Miroslava (NZ) (Swiss Ace) in her last two starts, but she previously picked up a win and two placings. The win came at the expense of Pick Me Up In Rio. | Michael & Matthew Pitman | Jillian Morris |
| 8 | Luvlucy | 6 | Cambridge raider Luvlucy (NZ) (Sweet Orange) is still a maiden, but has weighed in every time she's raced, including behind the likes of Melt, London Express (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Tutta La Classe (NZ) (Per Incanto). She was unlucky at Ruakaka last start. | Tony Pike | Dylan Turner |
| 9 | Miss Curious | 2 | Nom Du Jeu filly Miss Curious (NZ) has improved with every start, running eighth on debut before a fast-finishing third and a big late run for fourth in the Listed Champagne Stakes. | Danny Frye | Brett Murray |
| 10 | Thunder Bay | 4 | Thunder Bay (NZ) (Niagara) has had six starts for three placings, headed by a second in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) at this course last November. | Michael & Matthew Pitman | Corey Campbell |
| 11 | Dreamtesta | 11 | Testa Rossa filly Dreamtesta (NZ) finished third on debut last October and fourth in the Welcome Stakes in her only other start. She has won two trials in August and September. | Neill Ridley | Kin Kwo |
| 12 | Norma Jean | 10 | Norma Jean (NZ) (Coats Choice) has shown promise with strong finishes for fifth on debut over 1000 metres and a last-start second to Devil's Staircase. She was unplaced in the Listed Champagne Stakes. | Lance Robinson | Terry Moseley |
| 13 | Exclaim | 8 | Norma Jean's stablemate Exclaim (NZ) (Excelebration) has had two starts and been close up on both occasions, finishing fourth over 800 metres in January and fifth over 1250 metres last month. | Lance Robinson | Jacob Lowry |
| 14 | Ophelia Rose | 3 | Highly Recommended filly Ophelia Rose (NZ) has had three starts, placing on one occasion. She was placed in a trial earlier this month. | Stephanie Clark | Gosen Jogoo |
| 15 | Suffragette | 14 | After showing promise at the trials, Suffragette (NZ) (Zacinto) has finished fourth and seventh in her two starts. | Andrew Carston | Andrew Calder |
| 16 | Quattro Katie | 12 | Zoustar filly Quattro Katie has looked good in trials and has had two starts, finishing eighth on debut before a late finish into fifth at this track last start. | Jamie Richards | Jason Laking |
| 17 | Sweet Oak | 5 | Invercargill filly Sweet Oak (NZ) (Sweet Orange) has had one start, finishing eighth in the Listed Champagne Stakes. | Amanda Schwarz | Lee Callaway |