Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic
24 December 2008
Boxing Day at Ellerslie plays host to the middle leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of The Year Series, the $125,000 Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m).
Current series leaders Daffodil (No Excuse Needed), 15 points, and Juice (Bertolini), 13 points, are non-starters in the event, leaving the valuable points in the Group 2 feature up for grabs. Eight points are available for the first filly home, four for the second place-getter, and two points for third place.
Fillies with points in the Series contesting the Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic include Listed Soliloquy Lodge Stakes winner Awesome Planet (Giant's Causeway) with seven and a half points, Group 3 Eulogy Stakes winner Alagant Satin (Al Akbar) on six points, impressive last start Ellerslie winner Glamorous Girl (Thorn Park) on two points, and Group 3 Eulogy place-getter Puttanesca (Bertolini) on one and a half points.
Trainer Richard Collett lines up two impressive three-year-old fillies who have both won their last two starts. The talented Mill Duckie (Magic Ring) has won her last three races from 1300-1400m, and she will have to step up in class and distance to win the Eight Carat. Shanzero (Danzero) has been ultra good in her last two starts, winning them both and she deservedly gets the chance to secure black type here.
Andrew Scott is another trainer who will present two last start winners in the Eight Carat, the race he won last year with Satinka (Stravinsky). He is represented by a Thorn Park filly, the sire with the most runners represented in the event. Walk In The Park (Thorn Park) has won her last two starts, including a last start victory over this very course and distance here on 29/11. Scott's other last start winner is Joan's Chance, a filly by Volksraad who sired 2006 Eight Carat Classic winner Veloce Bella, a starter in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic on Friday.
Other last start winners looking to make the step-up in grade include Paul Duncan's Allaboutimage (Strategic Image) and Mark Walker's Tampiko (Lonhro).
The field also includes three fillies competitive at black type level at two, but who have yet to produce winning form at three. They are Group 3 Eclipse stakes winner Lady Alberton (Golan), Group 3 Eclipse Stakes place-getter Maureen Dorothy (Spartacus), and Listed Fairview Ford Slipper place-getter Explosive Dancer (San Luis).
Four lightly tried but promising types make up the seventeen strong field. They are winner's Marahau (Pins) for Stephen McKee, Due Diligence (Danasinga) the third runner for Andrew Scott, Hot Chilli (Black Minnaloushe) for Brett McDonald, and the three times second placed Scarlet Vanhara (Van Nistelrooy) for Ross Elliot.
Tune in to Trackside at 4pm on Boxing Day Friday to watch the belles of the turf contest the wonderful race named in honour of three-time Broodmare Of The Year Eight Carat (Pieces of Eight), dam of group 1 winners Octagonal (Zabeel), Mouwad (Zabeel), Kaapstad (Sir Tristram), Marquise (Gold and Ivory), and Diamond Lover (Sticks and Stones).