Desert Gold Field Femme Fantastic

New Zealand's most gifted three-year-old fillies will make their way to Trentham on Saturday for the  Group 3 Little India Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), the seventh race in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

The mile event which is raced on the same course as the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) has attracted 14 competitors looking to improve their positions in the 10-race NZB Filly of the Year Series. Heading the line-up is current Series leader Katie Lee (Pins x Miss Jessie Jay, by Spectacularphantom)) looking to stave off her competition for the crown.

The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson trained filly has raced in five Filly of the Year events thus far, winning both the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas and Group 2 Eight Carat Classic at a mile, and placing in the other three events to take her tally to 28.5 points.

Her nearest rival, Adaline (Court of Jewels x Red Covet, by St Covet), the Stephen McKee trained filly on 12 points, has raced Katie Lee twice with each claiming a win and a second apiece. Adaline beat Katie Lee over 2000m last start in the Group 2 Royal Stakes and her main aim is no doubt the NZ Oaks in March.

Eileen Dubh (Storm Creek x Vingtaine, by Centaine) beat Katie Lee in the first leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m), when both filled minor placings behind St Germaine, before Eileen Dubh went on to capture the Group 1 Levin Classic (1600m) for her trainer Francis Finnegan.

She is all class at a mile and, after drawing midfield, she will be looking to sit just off the pace before applying pressure early in the home straight.

Drawn to her outside is fellow Group 1 performer Keep the Peace (Keeper x Peace of Mind, by Wild Rampage) who looked all over the winner of the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas before Katie Lee flew by her outside. The Shaune Ritchie trained filly has been freshened and will be looking for points to add to her tally of seven which currently sees her in third place.

The proven fillies are nicely balanced out by some real up and comers who will be looking to earn black-type after winning well at their last starts.

These include two fillies who have drawn the outside barriers in Vanessa and Wayne Hillis' Marsh Harbour (Volksraad x Pasithea, by Crested Wave), barrier 13, and Obsession (Bachelor Duke x Mystery Creek, by Kaapstad), barrier 14,  along with Mark Walker's Pezzaglia (High Chaparral x Paolino, by Housebuster) who has drawn more favourably in 3.

Marsh Harbour is looking to gain her first win at a mile after three wins from 1200m-1400m, while The Oaks Stud's Obsession returned to her best when beating a quality field over 1400m at Ellerslie last start.

Pezzaglia will carry the Pencarrow Stud colours and after two wins at 1200m from three starts the High Chaparral filly will suit the step up in distance after strong runs from the rear of the field in all of her racing thus far.

Graeme and Mark Sanders' The Lady (Stravinsky x Lady Dehere, by Dhere) and Kevin Gray's Gofonze (Golan x Elfonze, by Krasnapolski) have raced in Group and Listed company since their two-year-old season with The Lady a dual Listed winner and Gofonze Listed placed. Both have been consistent this season without landing a major prize and deserve respect.

The remaining five starters are evenly split between Northern and Central Districts trained gallopers.

Roger James and Paul Mirabelli's Pearl Dancer (Danehill Dancer x Kaapture the Heart, by Kaapstad) was excellent last start when flashing for fourth behind gallopers the calibre of No Fear and Maciano at Ellerslie. Drawn 1 she will be handier on Saturday and could give cheek.

John Sargent's A Chance to Dream (Volksraad x Make Me a Dream, by Sadler's Wells) has not finished further back than fourth in three starts including a last start second behind Group 1 Levin Classic placed Green Supreme over 1600m at Ellerslie last start. Drawn 4 she too will be giving plenty on the champagne turf.

The Central Districts trio of Aunt Daisy (Captain Rio x Radio Rocket, by Blues Traveller) for Sylvia Kay, Bedlum (Exploding Prospect x Maelstrom, by Rosenkavalier) for Peter McKenzie, and Shylo (Volksraad x Caserio, by Kaapstad) for Matthew Eales round out the Desert Gold field.

Each is lightly tried with a win on the board and a better line on their ability will be possible post Saturday.

The $70,000 Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes takes place at Trentham at 2.43pm on Saturday with the winner earning 6 NZB Filly of the Year points, second 3 points, and third 1.5 points.

Click here for the current NZB Filly of the Year Series leader-board.