Adaline Sits Second After Royal Stakes Win

Adaline's victory in the Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie took the Stephen McKee trained filly to twelve points, and outright second position, in the NZB Filly of the Year Series.

The first race past a mile in the Series, the Royal Stakes annually highlights the fillies capable of moving through to a Group 1 NZ Oaks campaign and this past Friday Adaline (Court of Jewels x Red Covet) proved her staying prowess when asked to sit handy to the pace in the New Year's Day fillies feature.

Adaline's sire, Court of Jewels, is by Danehill from the wonderful Eight Carat family

Her versatility in being able to work early earned her a handy position one back and one off the rail, and, as the field swung into the home straight, her placement by Leith Innes' proved the winning advantage over well performed fillies like Katie Lee (Pins) and Veronica Franco (Johar).

The winning margin was half a length over Katie Lee, who sat last in running and sprinted hard late, while La Collina (Van Nistelrooy) held on for third over Veronica Franco to gain her first two points in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

Katie Lee, with four points for second, took her leading tally to 28.5 points and took her a step closer to the Filly of the Year crown, especially when considering her tally has only been bettered by one three-year-old filly, Princess Coup's 39 points in 2006/07, over the past four racing seasons.

Adaline was purchased by Trevor McKee from Seaton Park at the 2008 Karaka Select Sale. Outlaying $28,000 for the grand-daughter of Group 2 Great Northern Challenge Stakes winner Soleil Rouge (Red Tempo), Trevor McKee races the filly on his own account in which over $100,000 has been deposited over an eight start career.

With four events left in the race to be crowned New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year, Adaline still has a chance to run down Katie Lee's 16.5 point lead.

Blandford Lodge will offer three colts from the same family as Adaline at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale this coming February. All three are from daughters of Soleil Etoile (Star Way), a half-sister to Soleil Rouge who has produced Group 2 winner Silky Red Boxer and Group 1 Australasian Oaks placed Star of Gretchen (dam of Lot 434)  on the track to date.

Lot 193 - Brown Colt - Darci Brahma x Staryn Glenn (Montjeu)

Lot 205 - Bay Colt - Oratorio x Tarzie (City On a Hill)

Lot 434 - Bay Colt - Royal Academy x Gretchen (Bahhare)

The next race in the NZB Filly of the Year Series is the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) set for Trentham on Saturday, 30 January.

Click here for the latest standings in the NZB Filly of the Year Series.