Canterbury Belle Stakes Launches NZB Southern Filly Series
13 September 2024
A week after the NZB Filly of the Year Series kicked off in Hawke’s Bay, the South Island’s finest fillies get their first turn in the spotlight in Saturday’s $80,000 Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park.
The Canterbury Belle Stakes is the first of four legs in the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series, and it will be followed later in the season by the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m), the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) and the Listed NZB Warstep Stakes (2000m).
Each race is worth 7 points for first, with 4 for second and 2 for third, with the eventual winner receiving an insurance policy from NZB Insurance to the value of $50,000 plus GST. The winning filly’s connections will also be presented with the NZB Southern Filly of the Year trophy during the South Island Racing Awards in September of next year. Previous winners of the prestigious Southern Filly Series include the subsequent multiple Group One winners Final Touch (NZ) (Kashani) and Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel).
A classy group of contenders for this season’s Southern Filly title will showcase their credentials in the Canterbury Belle Stakes on Saturday, including the proven black-type performers Dream of the Moon (All Too Hard), Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) and Lil Zena (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), along with impressive race winners Diablo Blanco (NZ) (Super Seth), The Victress (Zoustain), About Last Night (NZ) (Capitalist), Connello (NZ) (Time Test) and Great Time (NZ) (Time Test).
The NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes will be run as Race 7 at Riccarton Park on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 3.58pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diablo Blanco | 4 | The Richard Didham-trained Diablo Blanco (NZ) has emerged as a bright prospect for her young sire Super Seth. The grey filly won two of her five starts as a two-year-old, along with a close fourth in the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), and she kicked off her three-year-old season with a dominant victory by four and a half lengths on Riccarton's synthetic track on August 24. | ||
| 2 | The Victress | 1 | The Victress (Zousain) is the first of three fillies in this field for Te Akau Racing, who won the Canterbury Belle Stakes with Viva Vienna (NZ) (All Too Hard) last year and with One Kiss (NZ) (Tivaci) in 2022. The Victress won on debut in January, then had two further starts as a juvenile including a fifth in the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1100m). She started her three-year-old preparation with a win by two and a quarter lengths at Riccarton on August 31. | ||
| 3 | About Last Night | 3 | Te Akau's second Canterbury Belle runner About Last Night (NZ) (Capitalist) was bought by David Ellis for $75,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. She won by almost three lengths on debut as a two-year-old last season, and her three-year-old campaign got underway with a second placing behind her stablemate The Victress (Zoustain) at Riccarton on August 31. | Karaka 2023, Book 1 | DC Ellis, $75,000 |
| 4 | Dream Of The Moon | 13 | Completing the Te Akau trio is Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard), who beat Diablo Blanco (NZ) (Super Seth) when she won by two and a half lengths during the New Zealand Cup Carnival last November. She then travelled back north to Trentham, where she ran third in the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m). She concluded her two-year-old season with fourth placings in the Group Three 2YO Classic (1200m) and the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m). | ||
| 5 | Connello | 5 | Owner David Woodhouse paid just $10,000 at the 2022 National Weanling Sale to buy Connello (NZ) (Time Test), who has so far earned $31,715 from a seven-start career that has produced a win and two placings. She was a last-start sixth in the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m). | 2022 National Weanling Sale | DK Woodhouse, $10,000 |
| 6 | Great Time | 2 | Robert Dennis paid $85,000 to buy Great Time (NZ) (Time Test) from Book 2 of Karaka 2023. She has had just three starts, including a five-length win at Riverton in late March and a sixth in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). | Karaka 2023, Book 2 | Robert Dennis Racing, $85,000 |
| 7 | Raziah | 8 | The Oaks Stud homebred Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) is still a maiden but has placed in two of her three starts including a last-start second in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in June. | ||
| 8 | Lavender Haze | 10 | Lavender Haze (Dubious) was a $50,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2023. Her four starts last season included a second placing on debut, followed by a fourth in the Group Two Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) in only her second career start. She resumed with a fourth over 1000 metres at Riccarton on August 31. | Karaka 2023, Book 2 | TFI/John Bary, $50,000 |
| 9 | Lil Zena | 14 | The locally trained Lil Zena (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) showed plenty of potential in her three starts last season, finishing third in both of her first two appearances including the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m). She then ran fifth in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). | ||
| 10 | Matakana Perkynana | 11 | The second runner in this line-up for Ascot Park trainer Robert Dennis, Matakana Perkynana (NZ) (Ocean Park) was bought for $50,000 from the 2023 Ready to Run Sale. She has had just one previous start, finishing second behind Diablo Blanco (NZ) (Super Seth) at Oamaru in July. | 2023 Ready to Run Sale | Robert Dennis Racing, $50,000 |
| 11 | Our Sallyann | 7 | Michael and Matthew Pitman, who took NZB Southern Filly honours with Epee Beel (Epaulette) last season, will be represented in this race by Our Sallyann (Shamus Award). She has had three starts to date for a second, a fifth and a sixth. | ||
| 12 | Waft | 9 | Hawke's Bay visitor Waft (All Too Hard) ventures south with just two career appearances under her belt, finishing fifth and seventh. | ||
| 13 | Let Me Loose | 6 | Let Me Loose (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) made her debut at this venue on August 31, finishing seventh over 1000 metres. | Karaka 2023, Book 2 | Psd, Res $10,000 |
| 14 | Conflict | 12 | Impending filly Conflict has had three starts so far, recording two sevenths and a ninth. | Karaka 2023, Book 2 | Wexford Stables, $55,000 |