Two out of Two for Emily Margaret (NZ) in Southern Filly Series

Two legs of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series have been run, and Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins) has won both of them.

The classy grey was too good when the Series began with the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in the spring, and the result was the same when the Series resumed in Saturday’s Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.

Ridden by Robert Hannam, Emily Margaret dashed forward from her wide gate to take the lead inside the first 150 metres. She dominated the race from there, kicking away to win by two and a half lengths from Dreamtesta (NZ) (Testa Rossa) and Naval Fleet (NZ) (Declaration of War).

“I was very, very pleased with her and Robbie did a great job,” co-trainer Kevin Hughes told NZ Racing Desk. “We thought we could just grind them all into the ground and that is what she did. She was very, very fit and was just too good on the day.”

Bought for $55,000 at the 2017 Select Sale, Emily Margaret has now had 11 starts for three wins, five placings and $93,250 in prize-money.

Emily Margaret towers over her rivals in the Southern Filly Series with 14 points. Dreamtesta and Wekaforce (NZ) (Showcasing) are equal second with 4 each.

With Emily Margaret’s connections now concentrating on the Group 2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham on March 16, other fillies may have a chance in the two remaining legs of the Southern Filly Series – the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on April 6, and the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at the same venue a week later.

“She seems to have come through the race very well and we will have a look at the Wellington Guineas,” Hughes said. “The travel doesn’t seem to worry her.

“I think 1400 metres is her pet distance. You might get away with a mile as a three-year-old. If she had someone like Robbie riding, she could steal a mile race, so we might do that third leg. We’ll just see what happens at Wellington.”