2020-21 NZB Southern Filly Series Resumes at Wingatui
5 March 2021
A quality field of fillies will assemble at Wingatui this weekend to provide an exciting start to the autumn phase of the 2020-21 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series.
The Series kicked off in October with the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton, won by the now Sydney-based Matchmaker (NZ) (Makfi).
The remaining three legs of the Series will be run over the next seven weeks, starting with the $50,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Saturday.
The $50,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) comes next at Riccarton on April 10, followed by the $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) as the series finale at the same venue two weeks later.
With Matchmaker a recent trial winner across the Tasman and the Canterbury Belle Stakes placegetters Laced With Gold (NZ) (Showcasing) and Stella Creek (NZ) (Per Incanto) both also absent, the 12 fillies in Saturday’s field have everything to play for. The winner will earn 7 points, giving them a share of the Series lead, while second and third will pick up 4 and 2 points respectively.
Showemhowitsdone (NZ) (Showcasing) takes top billing in this field, having impressively won the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Dunedin Guineas (1500m) in her last two starts. She finished ninth in the Canterbury Belle Stakes in one of her first appearances of the season.
The Gift (NZ) (Power) has won three races and finished second to Showemhowitsdone in both the Gore Guineas and Dunedin Guineas, while Larpower (NZ) (Power) is undefeated in two career appearances.
Fettercairn (NZ) (Highly Recommended) made a big impression in her only career start, flying from second-last for a runaway win at Riccarton.
Kitty Cugat (King Cugat) and Sweet Hunter (NZ) (Swiss Ace) are both last-start winners.
The NZB Insurance Stakes will be run as Race 9 at Wingatui on Saturday, with a start time of 4:35pm.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey | Purchaser |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Showemhowitsdone | 8 | Stakes-placed as a juvenile, Showemhowitsdone (NZ) (Showcasing) has come of age this season with three outstanding wins including the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) in her last two appearances. She was a $3200 weanling purchase from Gavelhouse.com in April 2018, and she has earned more than $78,000 in stakes. | Shane Kennedy & Anna Furlong | Terry Moseley | |
| 2 | The Gift | 5 | The Gift (NZ) (Power) won three races in a row in November and December, including a six-length maiden win at this track and an impressive victory during the New Zealand Cup carnival at Riccarton against a strong field - including third placegetter Showemhowitsdone. She later finished second behind that same rival in both the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m). | Robert Dennis | Jacob Lowry | |
| 3 | Kitty Cugat | 1 | Although she has yet to be tested at stakes level, Kitty Cugat (King Cugat) has made a favourable impression in her five-start career to date. She won at Ashburton in October, and again at Riccarton in her most recent start late last month. In between times she ran strong races for second and fourth placings. | Kylie Williams | Terri Rae | |
| 4 | Larpower | 11 | Larpower (NZ) (Power) boasts a perfect two-from-two record, winning on debut at Timaru in December and again at Wingatui on January 16. She is also undefeated in four trials appearances, beating the likes of race rival Kitty Cugat and the subsequently stakes-placed Milford Sound (NZ) (Ocean Park). | Ross Beckett | Kin Kwo | |
| 5 | Ocean Point | 3 | Ocean Park filly Ocean Point (NZ) has won twice in her seven-start career to date, along with close fourth placings in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m). | Robert Dennis | Courtney Barnes | |
| 6 | Sweet Hunter | 10 | A half-sister to Singapore Horse of the Year Infantry (NZ) (Tavistock), the Swiss Ace filly Sweet Hunter (NZ) was a $30,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. She has picked up two wins from eight starts so far, including a strong front-running win in her most recent start on February 17 at Te Aroha. | Shaune Ritchie & Colm Murray | Corey Campbell | Karaka 2019, Book 1, $30,000, purchased by Mr CL Chan |
| 7 | Choux In | 7 | Choux In (NZ) (Jimmy Choux) was purchased for a mere $2000 at the 2019 South Island Sale. She was a maiden winner at this track in November, and ran an eye-catching fifth in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m) in her last start. | Robert Dennis | Gosen Jogoo | 2019 South Island sale, $2,000, purchased by Mr DO Nicolson |
| 8 | Fettercairn | 9 | The least experienced runner in this field, Fettercairn (NZ) (Highly Recommended) nevertheless comes into the race with a bit of a reputation. Her only previous start came at Riccarton on February 13, where she dropped out to second-last before unleashing a huge finish to win by two and a half lengths. | Stephen Marsh | Racha Cuneen | |
| 9 | Lovebug | 12 | Lovebug (NZ) (Iffraaj) was bought by co-trainer Michael Pitman for $20,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2019. She has won twice in her 14-start career, placing on another two occasions including behind Showemhowitsdone at Ashburton in the spring. She also finished eighth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in October. | Michael & Matthew Pitman | Kavish Chowdhoory | Karaka 2019, Book 2, $20,000, Purchased by Michael Pitman |
| 10 | Sooo Dusty | 4 | Power filly Sooo Dusty (NZ) was a smart maiden winner two starts back, then finished seventh in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and eighth in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m). | Andrew Carston | Chris Johnson | |
| 11 | Adannaya | 6 | By Niagara out of the stakes-performed mare Elusive Tracy (NZ) (Elusive City), the promising Addanaya (NZ) has picked up two second placings and a fourth from her four-start career so far. | Lance Robinson | Tina Comignaghi | |
| 12 | Royal Wings | 2 | Royal Wings (NZ) (Proisir) was a $5000 purchase from the 2019 South Island Sale. After showing good ability in two trials at Ashburton, she finished eighth on debut over this course and distance last month. | Daniel Champion & Kezia Murphy | Daniel Bothamley | 2019 South Island Sale, $5,000, purchased by Mr C Rowe |