Classy Field for G2 Royal Stakes
30 December 2015
The fifth leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series is the Group 2 $100,000 Mongolian Khan Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
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Capella winning the Group 2 Eight Carat on Boxing Day. |
The field boasts some smart fillies but the drawcard will be Capella (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) after her impressive victory in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day. She was simply too good last start and is a leading chance again on Friday. Currently second in the NZB Filly of the Year Series with 8 points, the Danica Guy trained filly has won three of her five starts and will be ridden again by Mark Du Plessis. They will jump from barrier 6.
Graham Richardson-trained Strada Cavallo (NZ) (Alamosa) settled at the rear of the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic field and showed great acceleration late to finish sixth. The extra 400m should pose no problem for the Alamosa filly. The Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas runner-up has Chris Johnson aboard again and they have drawn barrier 9.
The Murray Baker, Andrew Forsman and Opie Bosson partnership has been in good form and they get another opportunity for Group success with Group 3 Eulogy Stakes winner Coldplay (NZ) (Savabeel). She missed the start in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic but she was doing her best work at the finish. She has a tricky draw at barrier 12.
Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi) is the winner of two of her six starts and was the race-favourite in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic after her last start fresh-up win against the colts and geldings. Unfortunately she clipped heels and fell with 300m to run when making her run last start. She will have a change of jockey, Danielle Johnson rides this week for trainer Stephen Marsh and they will jump from barrier 15.
With two wins and a second from seven starts, Headspin (NZ) (Pins) has already shown some promise. She was briefly held up when finishing an unlucky sixth at her last start in the Listed BMW Salver (2100m). Trained by Peter Lock with Samantha Collett riding, they have drawn barrier 8.
A winner of two of her last three starts is Starstripe (Starcraft). Trained by Michael Moroney and Chad Ormsby, the Starcraft filly rises in class this time and also races past a mile for the first time. Matthew Cameron retains the ride and they have barrier 11.
Placed third in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classicwas Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman). A winner on debut at Avondale, the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-trained filly has had two stakes races since, with close-up finishes for a third and a fourth. Kelly Myers will continue her association and they will be jumping from barrier 14.
Game filly Cool Tart (NZ) (Zabeel) gets her first try over distance. Sired by New Zealand’s top producer of stayers Zabeel, she has won once and placed twice in six starts. Michael Coleman will ride her from barrier 3.
The Lance Noble-trained Fame Seeker (NZ) (Showcasing) has had one win and two thirds from eight starts. She fought on well for third in her last start in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes behind Coldplay. Cameron Lammas rides and they have barrier 2.
A promising filly is the Shaune Ritchie-trained filly Vitesse (NZ) (Makfi). After a nice debut run for second at Avondale, she then ran two thirds at Ellerslie in three-year-old races over 1400m before breaking her maiden at Te Rapa over 1600m. The Makfi filly has drawn barrier 7.
The Roger James trained Downton Abbey (NZ) (Tavistock) has one win from five starts. The maiden win was at Tauranga over a mile, two starts ago. Vinnie Colgan rides and they have barrier 4.
Last start winner Megawatt (NZ) (Shocking) broke maiden ranks after five starts but faces a steep rise in class and distance here. Trained by Shaune Ritchie at Cambridge, the Shocking filly will jump from barrier 10 and Lisa Allpress will be aboard.
Peach Bellini (NZ) (Stravinsky) has one win and two seconds from 12 starts. Owned by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan and trained by Karen Fursdon, the Stravinsky filly is the most experienced filly in the race but he has yet to fill a place at four attempts at Ellerslie. She has drawn the outside at barrier 16. Trudy Thornton has her first race-day ride on the filly.
After three starts, the Graham Richardson-trained Tessastock (NZ) (Tavistock) is still a maiden but did show promise when stepped over further distance for the first time, finishing seventh in her last start in the Listed BMW Salver (2100m) against the colts and geldings. Craig Grylls rides the Tavistock filly and they have barrier 13.
The two ballots hoping to gain entry into the race are Maytra Dee (NZ) (Sufficient) and Poetic Affair (NZ) (Thewayyouare). The Bruce Wallace trained Maytra Dee, is a maiden after four starts and finished second in her last start to Vitesse. Poetic Affair is the second emergency and is trained by Stephen McKee & Eddie Chippendale. She has yet to break maiden ranks and faces a sterner test here if she makes the field. She has drawn barrier 1.
The Group 2 $100,000 Mongolian Khan Royal Stakes is the fifth leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series. The winner will earn 8 points towards the 10-race Series, second place will earn 4 points and third place will receive 2 points.
The NZB Filly of the Year Series is led by 1000 Guineas winner Risque (NZ) (Darci Brahma) with 12 points.
To view the full field of the Group 2 $100,000 Mongolian Khan Royal Stakes (2000m) click here.
For more information on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series and to view the race schedule, click here.