Courte Zarindi (NZ) Seals Southern Filly Title in Warstep

With a gutsy win in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton, the $600 weanling purchase Courte Zarindi (NZ) (Any Suggestion) ended one of the best stories of the New Zealand racing season on a high as New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year.

Heading into Saturday’s final leg of the Series, Courte Zarindi had 9 points and a two-point lead over Respin (NZ) (Power) and Kiwi Ida (Squamosa). She had won the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) before finishing third, beaten by two noses, in the NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m). Her Warstep Stakes victory carried her well clear of those rivals with a total of 16 points.

Ridden by Tina Comignaghi for Invercargill trainer Sally McKay, Courte Zarindi raced in midfield through the early stages of the 2000-metre test. She improved her position out wide as the field approached the turn, then moved forward to challenge for the lead soon after straightening for home.

She was briefly headed by Za Za Gabor (O’Reilly) on her outside, but fought back bravely and scored a nose win in a head-bobbing finish.

It was the second Southern Filly Series title in a row for McKay, who achieved the same feat 12 months ago with Showemup (NZ) (Showcasing). But this was extra special, coming at the end of a nerve-racking week.

“She’s sensational to do what she did,” she told NZ Racing Desk. “It was unreal that she made the race, let alone won it. And she had to do it the hard way – it wasn’t easy.

“She got a massive boil, the size of an orange, on her wither and she ended up missing about eight days’ work. Honestly, I didn’t think I’d get her to the race.

“I got Tommy Beckett over to massage and work on her last Wednesday, and I knew on Friday she was coming right, but I was worried about the work she had missed.”

Raced by Bill McNamara and Sam Fryer, Courte Zarindi has now had 13 starts for four wins, five placings and $93,335 in prize-money – more than 155 times her purchase price.

NZB Insurance Stakes winner Respinand Canterbury Belle Stakes winner Kiwi Ida shared second spot on the Southern Filly Series table with 7 points apiece.

Warstep Stakes placegetters Za Za Gabor and Wee Gilly (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) picked up their first points of the Series with 4 and 2 respectively.