Classic Clare Wins Southern Filly Of The Year Competition

The final day of Canterbury Jockey Club's autumn carnival saw the running of the final leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series. The New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes, a Listed event over 2000 metres, was run on an easy track and featured some smart southern fillies up against a contingent of North Island hopefuls.

The unbeaten Uprize (NZ) (Prized x Impossible Dream) went into the race as favourite. The Peter and Dawn Williams-trained filly needed the win to secure the top-equal position in the series. Despite looking promising throughout the race she was unable to get past the race leader Kim's Coup (NZ) (Kashani x Marcasite) who held on to win by a half neck. Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel x Real Success) ran home well for third after being jostled on the turn.

Kim's Coup is owned by Ray Coupland who purchased her from the 2002 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Fillies Sale for $26,000.

The result sees both Kim's Coup and Uprize finish second equal in Southern Filly Series with ten points a piece. The competition was taken out by Classic Clare (NZ) (Gold Brose x Funny Features) who finished with 14 points. Regardless of a disappointing run in Saturday's race her early wins in the first two legs of the competition were enough to secure her the title of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year.

The final points table for the competition was

Classic Clare 14
Kims Coup 10
Uprize 10
Clifton 3
Lady Libertine 3
Danamac 1
Heads Or Tales 1
Hi Yo Wassup1
Vouvray 1

The presentation of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year title takes place later this year at the South Island Racing Awards.