CJC Calling for Entrants for NZ Group 1 Fillies Feature

Entries for one of the country's most prestigious fillies' events - the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas - close in just eight days' time on Tuesday 30 August 2011.

For the tenth consecutive year New Zealand Bloodstock will be the title sponsor of the $300,000 Group 1 feature being hosted by the Canterbury Jockey Club at its Riccarton Park racecourse on 12 November.

A highlight of New Zealand Bloodstock's prestigious Filly of the Year Series, the One Thousand Guineas is the first Group 1 event, and third leg, of the ten-race Series for three-year-old fillies.

2010/11 NZB Filly of the Year King's Rose

In a telling statistic, six of the last eight Filly of the Year victors have won the 1600 metre event including King's Rose (Redoute's Choice), Katie Lee (Pins), Daffodil (No Excuse Needed), Insouciant (Keeper), Justa Tad (Istidaad) and Taatletail (Faltaat). Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago) also came within a neck of taking the race in 2006 before winning the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks and securing the Filly of the Year crown in 2007.

The race has also celebrated some other outstanding winners in recent years including the great Seachange (Cape Cross). She came into the race unbeaten in just three starts and confirmed her status as a brilliant filly in 2005 as she notched up the first of her seven career Group 1 wins.

The Jewel was another memorable winner of the race in 2002. She came into the Group 1 with three wins under her belt and went on to place in the New Zealand Oaks before coming close to emulating Ethereal's Australian winning double in 2001, taking the Doomben Roses, but just falling short in the Queensland Oaks running a close second. She then went on to win the Group 1 International Stakes later in her career.

The 2011/12 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series gets underway on 17 September with the $70,000 Group 3 Hawkes Bay Thoroughbred Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).

The fillies compete throughout the Series of ten races and are awarded points for wins or placings in each race. Every race carries black-type, over distances from 1200 metres to the 2400 metres of the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks.

Proudly supported by New Zealand Bloodstock and in its 39th year, the title is very keenly contested and carries significant prizes for the owner, trainer and breeder of the ultimate Series winner. The winner of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year title immediately becomes a highly valuable breeding proposition and earns her connections $50,000 in bonus cheques including $10,000 for her breeder, $10,000 for her trainer and $30,000 for her owners.

This year King's Rose (Redoute's Choice) was trained by Jason Bridgman to record 34 points and capture the winner's crown. The presentation will be made to her connections at New Zealand's annual Thoroughbred Racing Awards this Friday (26 August).

Nominations for the New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (1600m) close Tuesday 30 August at 4pm. For entry enquiries, please contact the Canterbury Jockey Club. To view the 2011/12 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year programme, click here. For more information on race entries, and other leading races in the Christchurch Racing Carnival, click here.