Costa Viva Crowned NZB Filly of the Year

Connections of Costa Viva (Encosta de Lago) had a few anxious moments watching the Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks on Saturday but could celebrate at the end of the day as their filly was crowned New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year by a narrow margin.

Costa Viva was successful in the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas on her way to being crowned NZB Filly of the Year.

The Te Akau Racing galloper established an early lead in the Filly of the Year Series with victory in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas and built her lead to 20.5 points throughout the season with her consistent form.

The daughter of Encosta de Lago did not compete in the Group 1 NZ Oaks on Saturday after being sent to the spelling paddock by trainer Jason Bridgman after running third in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham in January.

There was only one filly that had a chance to run down Costa Viva with victory in the Group 1 NZ Oaks on Saturday, which was race-favourite Miss Selby (NZ) (O’Reilly) who tried gallantly but could only manage second in the race which to her took her Series tally to 19 points, 1.5 points shy of Costa Viva.

Costa Viva’s Series win has earned her connections $50,000 in bonus cheques including $10,000 for her breeders Mr KG Williams & Mr KR Biggins, $10,000 for her trainer Jason Bridgman and $30,000 for her owners Mrs J & R K Batten, Mrs D Ford, D P & Mrs N E Hurst.

“It was certainly an extraordinary achievement to really dominate this prestigious award and to do it with such a high-class filly, that I am sure will go on to win Group races in Australia. It is a tribute to the high-regard and the prestige that the NZB Filly of the Year Series is held and the manner in which it is targeted by everybody in the industry,” commented David Ellis, Principal of Te Akau Stud.

“To think that we had two other fillies that were competitive in the Series is a really great tribute to the team at Te Akau headed by Jason Bridgman who has done a sensational job with the three-year-olds.

“To be able to buy a filly of this quality for just $100,000 shows that literally everybody can have a share in a horse that can go on and perform at this level.

“After her last start Costa Viva had a spell, she has been back in work for two weeks and our goal is to run her in the Windsor Park Stud Breeders Stakes at Te Rapa then go to Brisbane, there are some lovely races in Brisbane like the Queensland Guineas which she will be targeted for.

“One of the owners has previously had a champion two-year-old, champion-three-year-old, champion sprinter/miler and a Horse of the Year with me so he has brought the luck to the team and they are just absolutely delighted to have won this prestigious award.”

Te Akau Racing has a rich history in the Filly of the Year Series with Costa Viva becoming the fifth winner of the Series in the past 10 years to be trained out of the stable.

Costa Viva will now have her name on the Honour Roll alongside previous winners such as Fix, King’s Rose, Katie Lee, Daffodil, Princess Coup, Vapour Trail and many more great fillies to race in New Zealand.

To view the final points table for the Series, click here.