16 Fillies Primed For Gr.1 NZB 1000 Guineas

The field for the feature race in New Zealand this weekend, the $300,000 Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (1600m), is shaping up as a cracker for the second Saturday of the racing carnival at Riccarton.

The Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas is also the third leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's prestigious Filly of the Year Series. Six of the last ten winners of the NZB Filly of the Year Series have won the 1000 Guineas on their path to the coveted crown, including the last four in a row, showing that Saturday's starters have everything to play for.

Anabandana (Anabaa x Great Notice) currently leads the Filly of the Year Series on six points after her easy fresh up win in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hawke's Bay, and she heads Saturday's field in the number one saddle cloth.

Last season's Champion NZ Two-Year-Old, Anabandana ran a good second last start when beaten half-a-length in the Group 1 2000 Guineas by the $1 million Karaka graduate Rock 'n' Pop. Trained by Don Sellwood and ridden by James McDonald, she will be backing up in Saturday's race which she has never done before but she is all class and is one to watch.

Holy Moly (Holy Roman Emperor x Clarissa) holds second position in the Filly of the Year Series with four points after her win in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes two starts ago. She is one of two entries in the race for Roger James.

Holy Molywas impressive when winning the Listed Soliloquy Stakes over 1400 metres at Ellerslie. She then ran a good third behind the tough Antonio Lombardo and Anabandana at her last start in the Group 3 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes and will enjoy the step up to the 1600 metres. She has Vinnie Colgan aboard.

Last year's Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas winner King's Rose takes the Group 2 NZB Memsie Stakes this season.

A $200,000 Karaka graduate, Holy Moly is currently the highest rated filly on the Order of Entry for the Karaka Sale incentive race for three-year-olds - the $100,000 Res.L Karaka 3YO Mile in January.

The lightly raced NZB graduate Full of Spirit (Flying Spur x Imposingly) is the other runner for Roger James. She comes into the race after winning her debut impressively in September and produced a late finish to take fourth at her last start at Ellerslie from her only two raceday appearances.

One of two stakes winners for her sire Darci Brahma, Artistic (ex Artless) flew home in the Listed Bonecrusher Stakes at Ellerslie two starts ago for her trainer Shaune Ritchie. She finished only two-and-three-quarter-lengths away fourth in the Group 3 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes at her last appearance and is right in this. She also has the advantage of having proven her merit on a slow track which headliner Anabandana is yet to do.

The Peter & Dawn Williams trained Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock x Akris) is more than capable of winning the Guineas double for her sire Fastnet Rock. She ran a solid third in the Karaka Million last season and won well two starts ago in the Guineas Trial (1400m). The Karaka graduate seemed to be left wanting on the heavy ground at Trentham at her last start but battled on well for third. She will be ridden by Hayden Tinsley.

A winner of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes fresh up in September, the John Sargent trained Kasumi (Shinko King x Mistaurian) also won the Listed Champagne Stakes last season, beating Duckworth Lewis who won the Group 3 Sparkling Stakes at Ellerslie last week. She was unplaced in the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes (1400m) at her last start but is a very capable filly who has won twice from her four starts.

Trainer Jason Bridgman has two Karaka graduates in the race and will be looking to capture the 1000 and 2000 Guineas double after Rock 'n' Pop's performance last Saturday. He will saddle Kindred (Pins x Kind Return) who comes into the race off back-to-back victories, her last coming in a rating 75 1200 metre contest at Motukarara late last month.

The Te Akau trainer will also have the lightly tried Viana (Volksraad x Hecuba) in the race. She enters the Group 1 as a maiden but has been competitive in her three races to date and fought on well to take third over 1400 metres at Riccarton at her last start.

Group 2 placed in the Matamata Breeders Stakes at two, the Murray Baker trained Karaka graduate Beejay Belle (Perfectly Ready x Guinness) has raced competitively this season in some tough company and had her first run at Riccarton last start finishing fourth over the Mile.

Dual winner Unbelieveabelle (Handsome Ransom x Shona Indre) from Stephen Crutchley's yard also had her first start on the Riccarton track in her last appearance, finishing fourth over 1400 metres, and Saturday's contest will be a step up in class for the filly.

In-form trainer Lisa Latta won the Group 2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile yesterday with Platinum Princess and will have Capital Diamond (Lucky Unicorn x Diamond Smile) in the race. She comes into the Group 1 after a tough third on heavy ground at Foxton.

An impressive last start winner, the NZB graduate Abeautifulred (Handsome Ransom x You Beauty) is trained by Graeme & Debbie Rogerson and was all class over the 1400 metres at just her second start, leading all the way to win by two-and-a-half-lengths at Te Teko.

The Shaun Clotworthy trained Zah Girl (Keeper x Satin Pillows) and Pasha Sumore (Untouchable x Xeraphin) for Stephen Dravitzki, both Karaka graduates, come into the race off the back of winning performances, both over 1400 metres. Zah Girl raced at Riccarton two starts back where she was unplaced in the Listed Canterbury Stakes (1600m).

Asavant (Zabeel x Pins 'n' Needles) has only had two starts for John & Karen Parsons and ran a good second at her last start to Zah Girl in a 1400 metre maiden. The Richard Otto trained Capricious (Spartacus x Miss Jean Brodie) is also a maiden and comes into the field after a good second over 1400 metres at Te Awamutu late last month.

The New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas has been won by the likes of King's Rose (Redoute's Choice) who was Group 1 placed in the $1 million Emirates Stakes in Melbourne last weekend, Katie Lee (Pins), AJC Oaks winner Daffodil (No Excuse Needed), Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago) and many other highly talented fillies.

The winner of Saturday's Group 1 $300,000 Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 39th 1000 Guineas (1600m) will take the lead in NZB's Filly of the Year Series with 12 points on offer for first place, with second earning seven points and third 3.5 points. The race will be held at 3.16pm NZ time.

To view the field and the barrier draw, click here.