Competition Hot For Mercedes Fillies Prelude
23 December 2002
The stellar field is headed by the Paul O'Sullivan trained filly Rockabubble (Bubble Gum Fellow x Blond Rocket) who recently won the Listed Cullen Stakes. Rockabubble will have some strong competition from the Mark Walker trained trio of runners Spur Bird (Flying Spur x Auptag), Snipight (Snippets x Spectacular Light) and Phoenicia (Volksraad x Meralini). Spur Bird and Phoenicia have both had wins and Snipight was an unlucky second in her only start. Walker looks to have a good chance of completing the Mercedes Prelude double after his precocious youngster King's Chapel won the Colts Mercedes Super Bonus Prelude on Saturday at Manawatu.
In what is likely to be a wide open affair, the consistent Bless (Slavic x Blue Tess) and Foxette (Entrepreneur x Blucielo) both have a strong chance of taking the honours in a very even field. Debut winners Pay My Bail (Justice Prevails x Ebony Jane) and Butterface (Prince Ferdinand x Bay Caf�) could be ones for lovers of longer odds to support, as is the rapidly improving Purrfection (Tale of the Cat x Nothing Less)
Five fillies in the field have already won a Mercedes Super Bonus Series race, with Rockabubble and Purrfection each winning a Mercedes Super Bonus Jackpot of $25,000, while Wooden Masque (Woodborough x Magic Move), Bless and Spur Bird have all won a $10,000 bonus.
The Mercedes Super Bonus Series is an incentive scheme for owners of 2YO sale graduates of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales Series. Horses purchased at this sale can be enrolled in the series for their chance to share in the rich rewards of over $1 million throughout the racing season. The jewel in the crown for the series is the $500,000 Mercedes Classique, which will be run at Te Rapa on February 1.
For more information on enrolling a yearling in the rewarding Mercedes Super Bonus Series please contact Guy Mulcaster on (09) 298 0055 or email guy@nzb.co.nz
To begin selecting a yearling for the 2003/2004 Mercedes Super Bonus Series request a 2003 National Yearling Sales catalogue by contacting New Zealand Bloodstock on (09) 298 0055 or email reception@nzb.co.nz.