Double Bonus in Sixth Leg of NZB’s Filly of the Year Series

The sixth leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series will be held this Saturday with the $70,000 Group 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Wellington Racing Club.

Platinum Witness winning the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

This is the sixth leg in the Series of ten races, with a field of 12 fillies attempting to accumulate as many points as possible to be named Filly of the Year in the 2014-15 season. This leg sees the race drop back to a mile, after challenging the fillies at 2000m in the Group 2 Royal Stakes on New Year’s Day.

This is also the second leg of the Wellfield Lodge Triple Crown, the first leg was won by Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) in the Group 3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes in December. The final leg of the Wellfield Triple Crown will take place in March in the Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks, which is also the last leg of the Filly of the Year Series.

Points are awarded for each of the three legs and at the culmination of the Series the leading filly will receive a service to Alamosa, the runner-up filly will receive a service to Road to Rock, both stallions stand at Wellfield Lodge.

Heading Saturday’s field is Platinum Witness (California Dane), currently sitting second on the NZB Filly of the Year Leaderboard. This will be her first race since winning the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas in November. The Lisa Latta trained filly has Darryl Bradley riding from barrier 6.

With three points towards the NZB Filly of the Year Series and two points in the Wellfield Lodge Triple Crown is Attention Seeker (NZ) (Fast’n’Famous), trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott. Winning two of her six starts and placing second in another two, she will be ridden by Hayden Tinsley from barrier 11.

Trained by Kevin Myers, Caramac (NZ) (Iffraaj) has won her last two starts, totalling three wins in her racing career. The daughter of Iffraaj will begin from barrier 2.

Winner in her last start was Exquisite Jewel (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn), trained by Sue Walsh and Bruce Gregory. The daughter of Lucky Unicorn broke her maiden status as a two-year-old, now totalling three wins from her eight starts. Robert Hannam will ride the three-year-old filly from barrier 10.

Listowel (NZ) (Darci Brahma), trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, has started in seven races since debuting as a two-year-old. Two starts ago she won her second consecutive race over 1400m and will start from barrier 5 with Leith Innes riding.

Placing in all five of her races is Queenoftheplalace (NZ) (Keeper), winning two starts ago at 1200m. Her last start was her first 1400m race where she gained her fourth second placing. Apprentice rider Rory Hutchings will be starting her from barrier 7 for trainers David and Emma Haworth.

Breaking maidens in her last start was Acquisto (NZ) (Thewayyouare), trained by Tony Bambry. Prior to winning, the daughter of Thewayyouare ran third, with both runs at Otaki. Jockey Opie Bosson will start Acquisto from barrier 9.

Winning on debut four starts ago was Dream Run (NZ) (Pins), trained by Paul and Kris Shailer. The daughter of Pins was unlucky in her two starts at the start of the season but claimed third place in her last start in January. Jockey Michael McNab will start her from barrier 8.

The second runner for Lisa Latta is Platinum Command (NZ) (Red Giant). A winner at her last start when breaking maidens, the daughter of Red Giant will start from barrier 1 ridden by Jonathan Riddell.

The Jason Bridgman trained Vive La Difference (Choisir) has started in five races, breaking maiden status in her first start in her three-year-old campaign. Unlucky at her last start when held up for most of the straight at Tauranga, the daughter of Choisir will be ridden by Te Akau Racing’s stable rider Matthew Cameron, starting from barrier 4.

Entering the race as a maiden is Petty Theif (NZ) (Iffraaj), trained by Bill Thurlow. Her last race saw her finish second just a week ago over 1600m. Petty Thief has Johnathon Parkes riding from barrier 12.

Another runner for Paul and Kris Shailer is She’s A Screamer (NZ) (Pins). Yet to win a race, the Pins filly had her racing debut as an early three-year-old, making this her sixth start. With two third places at 1400m, the Pins filly will start from barrier 3 with Vinnie Colgan riding.

The winner of the Group 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes will receive 6 points towards the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, second place will earn 3 points and third place will earn 1.5 points.

Leading the Series is Saavoya (NZ) (Savabeel) on 16 points after her stellar back-to-back victories in the last two legs, the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic and the Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes.

Platinum Witness has earned 12 points in the Series after winning the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas and Darci’s Dream (NZ) (Darci Brahma) ran second in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, earning her 7 points and ranking her in third position.

The winner will also receive 3 points towards the Wellfield Lodge Triple Crown Series, second place will receive 2 points and third place will earn 1 point.

Choice leads the Wellfield Lodge Triple Crown Series on 3 points, Attention Seekeris on 2 points and Palace Rock (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) sits in third place on 1 point.

To view the full field for the Group 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes, click here.