All Eyes on Leica Lucy (NZ) in Fillies’ Classic

Saturday’s $275,000 Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa could continue a rapid rise up the NZB Filly of the Year Series leaderboard by Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn).

The Robbie Patterson-trained filly had no points to her name in the series until December 21, when she won the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham by almost three lengths. She added last month’s Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at the same venue with similar ease, soaring up to third on the table with 12 points.

While the table’s top two fillies, Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) and Captured By Love (Written Tycoon), will play no further part in the series, the title looks increasingly within reach for Leica Lucy. The winner of the Fillies’ Classic at Te Rapa on Saturday will earn 8 points, which would take Leica Lucy to 20 points and only one point behind the leader. The second and third placegetters in the fillies’ classic will receive 4 points and 2 points respectively.

Leica Lucy’s four-race career has produced three wins and a second. She has had a partial change of ownership since her last-start Desert Gold Stakes success, with prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir purchasing a share alongside owner-breeders Heather and Peter Crofskey. Kheir did the same thing 12 months ago with Group One-winning filly Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High), who won the Fillies’ Classic in her next start and went on to be crowned NZB Filly of the Year.

A talented field of eight other fillies will line up against Leica Lucy on Saturday. Skymax (NZ) (Ferrando) is the only one with NZB Filly of the Year Series points already to her name, having earned 1.5 points from her third placing in the Eulogy Stakes. But Prosegur (NZ) (Proisir) and Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree) were close up in fourth and fifth respectively in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day, and Myakkabelle backed up to run fourth in the Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) on New Year’s Day. Prosegur went on to run a strong-finishing eighth in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

Alaskan (NZ) (Niagara), Top Shelf (NZ) (Savabeel) and Wyndsong (NZ) (Wyndspelle) all go into the race as last-start winners.

The David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic will be run as Race 4 on Legends Day at Te Rapa on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 2.10pm.