Guineas a Gamechanger in NZB Filly of the Year Series

After impressive auditions throughout the spring from numerous New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series contenders, Saturday’s $300,000 Group One gavelhouse.com 47th New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton is one filly’s time to shine.

The prestigious classic is the second leg of the 2019-20 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, and it is worth 12 points to the winner – moving them a big step closer to the coveted title. Saturday’s second and third placegetters will earn 7 and 3.5 points respectively.

The first leg of the Series was the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings back in September, where two of last season’s stars excelled. Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Bavella (Snitzel), who had both won stakes races as two-year-olds, fought out a heart-stopping finish.

Aretha’s narrow victory put her at the top of the table with 6 points heading into Saturday’s Guineas, while Bavella has 3 and Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) has 1.5.

But in the eight weeks since the Gold Trail Stakes, a flurry of new fillies have come to the fore.

Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) is undefeated in three impressive starts, culminating in last month’s Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.

Kali (NZ) (Darci Brahma), who was unlucky in the Gold Trail Stakes, has won all of her other three including the Group Three Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton.

Bella Mente (NZ) (El Roca), Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) and Karalino (NZ) (Zacinto) have all placed at Group level in their most recent appearances, while All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing) is a proven black-type performer and Avadane (NZ) (Savabeel) and Birdsong (NZ) (Snitzel) were impressive last-start winners in lower grades.

The gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas will be run as Race 7 on Saturday with a start time of 3:10pm.