Competition Hot As Wharite Princess Takes Home Gr.1 Nz Oaks

Competition for the title of 2003/04 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year is heating up with a host of smart fillies coming to the fore with the most recent being Saturday's Gr.1 ING Life New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Wharite Princess.

On a firm track at the Wellington Racing Club at Trentham, Wharite Princess (His Royal Highness x Regal Visit) passed the post one length clear of Filante Etoile (Soviet Star x Georgiana) with Midnight Kiss (Groom Dancer x Midnight Assembly) a further � length away in third.

Trained by Lisa Latta, Wharite Princess is now third on the points table for the prestigious title of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year with 13.5 points. Leading the points table with 25 points is Kainui Belle (Kashani x Lady Ukiah) who also ran on Saturday, but failed to see the distance out coming home midfield.

Taatletail (Faltaat x Defensive Lady) is second on the Filly of the Year points table with 24 points. The Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge trained filly did not compete in Saturday's race.

Wharite Princess was purchased by Lisa Latta at New Zealand Bloodstock's Festival Yearling Sale for $20,000 from the draft of Lambourn Stud.

Following the ING Life New Zealand Oaks the points table for the 2003-04 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series currently stands as follows:

Kainui Belle 25
Taatletail 24
Wharite Princess 13.5
Buckle My Shoe 8
Filante Etoile 7
Eftee One 6
Danette 5
Sarah Vee 4
Midnight Kiss 3.5
Unearthed 3.5
Classic Clare 3
Rapid Kay 3
Bridie Belle 2
Clifton 1.5
Pay My Bail 1.5
Her Hidden Talent 1

The next race in the 2003-04 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series is the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at the Waikato Racing Club on Saturday 7 February.

The 2003-2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series can be followed by viewing www.nzb.co.nz where the points table for the Series is updated after each race.