Newcomers Enter Filly of the Year Fray

12 December 2019

The one to beat in Leg 3 of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, Aalaalune (NZ) as a yearling.
The one to beat in Leg 3 of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, Aalaalune (NZ) as a yearling.

Some new names are set to be added to the points table for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series after Saturday’s third leg, the $70,000 Group Three LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni.

The leaderboard is currently clearly headed by the outstanding Group One gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Loire (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice), who has 13.5 points.

Guineas runner-up Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) has 7 points, with Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit) on 6, Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) on 3.5 and Bavella (Snitzel) on 3.

None of those fillies feature in Saturday’s Eulogy Stakes field, clearing the way for newcomers to force their way on to the table. The Eulogy Stakes will be worth 6 points to the winner, with 3 points for second and 1.5 for third.

Aalaalune (NZ) (Reliable Man) brings the most impressive credentials into the race, having placed multiple times at stakes level last season including in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m). She won by four lengths at Te Rapa last start.

But Belle Plaisir (NZ) (Proisir) has also made a highly promising start to her career, winning two of her four starts to date, and almost every filly in the promising line-up has already recorded at least one victory.

The Eulogy Stakes will be run as Race 7 at Awapuni on Saturday with a start time of 4:02pm.

Leg 3 Race Preview: 

# Horse Draw Comments Trainer Jockey
1 Belle Plaisir 2 The locally trained Belle Plaisir (NZ) (Proisir) has made a highly promising start to her racing career, winning two of her four starts to date. There was also merit in each of her two defeats, which were fourth placings against older horses in highly competitive fields. Lucy Tanner Johnathan Parkes
2 Aalaalune 5 Aalaalune (NZ) (Reliable Man) took 12 starts to win a race, finally clearing maiden grade with a dominant four-length victory at Te Rapa late last month. But she was a consistent big-race performer before that, finishing second in the Listed Splice Construction 2YO Stakes (1100m), fourth in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m), sixth in the Karaka Million 2YO (1200m), third in the Group 2 Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m), second in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Group 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m). Team Rogerson Ryan Elliot
3 Lilikoi 4 Well-related filly Lilikoi (NZ) (Charm Spirit) scored a stylish win at Taupo in September and has produced creditable performances for second placings in each of her two subsequent appearances. Bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, she is a granddaughter of Irish Group 1 winner Damson (Entrepreneur). Jamie Richards Rosie Myers
4 Manchu 6 Up-and-comer Manchu (Redoute's Choice) has looked very good recording a win and three placings from her five starts to date. Her only time further back than third was an unlucky ninth against a strong field in the Group 2 Sarten Memorial (1400m) in the third start of her career. Leah Hemi Lance Noble
5 Power 'n' Passion 1 Power 'n' Passion (NZ) (Power) was extremely unlucky when unplaced at this track late last month. Before that, she looked highly promising in stringing together a win and two second placings. Robert Hannam Gary Vile
6 Queen Kamada 8 By Rip Van Winkle out of a Lonhro mare, Queen Kamada (NZ) has shown good ability in her four-race career so far. She had no luck on debut in September, but then ran a promising fifth at Tauherenikau and scored a strong win at this track early last month. She was fourth last time out in the same race as Lilikoi and Power 'n' Passion. Madan Singh Anne Herbert
7 Showbeel 3 Showbeel (NZ) (Savabeel) brings plenty of pedigree credentials into the race. She is by champion stallion Savabeel, and her granddam Showella (NZ) (Lord Ballina) was a Group 1 winner on both sides of the Tasman. She went on to produce three stakes winners, and she is the granddam of Group 1 performer Zacada (NZ) (Zabeel). Showbeel scored an impressive last-start maiden win at Rotorua. Lisa Allpress Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman
8 Anna Cecilia 9 Anna Cecilia (More Than Ready) was thrown in at the deep end on debut last season, finishing sixth in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m). She won a maiden race at Avondale later that season, and was a strong last-start third at Te Rapa on November 24. Ryoya Kozaki Lauren Brennan
9 Elisa Carolina 7 She was unplaced in her only previous start, but Elisa Carolina (NZ) (Makfi) could be a filly to watch. She is a sibling to two stakes performers and comes from the family of Group 1 winners Vengeance Of Rain (NZ) (Zabeel), Danelagh (Danehill), Dizelle (Zabeel) and Pinot (Pierro). Vinnie Colgan Stephen Marsh

 View the leaderboard and race schedule here.