Eulogy Shines Spotlight On Emerging NZB Filly of the Year Contenders
18 December 2025
Undefeated filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) has dominated the early stages of the 2025-26 NZB Filly of the Year Series, but the complexion of the series might start to change with this weekend’s fifth leg.
Saturday’s $100,000 Group Three LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham is a clean slate, with all of the eight runners chasing their first NZB Filly of the Year Series points.
Well Written has amassed 20 points with her super-impressive victories in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), but the remainder of her summer itinerary is set to be made up of races that are not part of the NZB Filly of the Year Series – features such as the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m), the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and the $4m NZB Kiwi (1500m).
That could leave an opening for a series newcomer to launch their move up the table, like Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) did 12 months ago. Last year’s Eulogy was the first NZB Filly of the Year Series appearance for Leica Lucy, who won that race and went on to seal the title with subsequent victories in the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), Group Two Lowland Stakes (2100m) and Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m).
While none of Saturday’s Eulogy Stakes line-up have yet earned points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag), Abbakiss (Microphone) and Origin Of Love (Snitzel) have all won or placed at stakes level while every other runner in the eight-horse field has won impressively in lower grades.
The winner of the Eulogy Stakes will earn 6 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, with 3 for second and 1.5 for third.
The LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes will be run as Race 4 at Trentham on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 2.57pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | War Princess | 4 | Purchased for $77,500 from Book 2 of Karaka 2024, War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) has earned $95,360 from her seven-race career. She scored impressive wins in four of her first six starts, then caught the eye with a flying finish for second in the Listed O'Learys Fillies' Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui last time out. The step up to 1600 metres this weekend looks ideal for this filly, despite the fact that her half-sister Appellant (NZ) (Showcasing) was a placegetter in the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). | Karaka 2024, Book 2 | Exempt Bloodstock/Peter Didham Racing, $77,500 |
| 2 | Abbakiss | 1 | Abbakiss (Microphone) showed bright promise as a two-year-old last season with a win at Tauherenikau, a second placing in a photo finish to the Listed Wellesley Stakes (1000m), and a close sixth in the $1m Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). She has added another win to her record this spring and was a last-start sixth in the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m). Abbakiss was bought for $60,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2024 and has earned $86,160. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Raumai Bloodstock Ltd, $60,000 |
| 3 | Origin Of Love | 3 | Te Akau Racing's Origin Of Love (Snitzel) has recorded two wins in her five-race career, including the Group Three War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on October 25. Her only start since then produced a solid fifth behind standout filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). | ||
| 4 | The Dirty Dee | 5 | New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson won this race last year with Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn), who went on to be crowned NZB Filly of the Year. Patterson is back again with two runners this year, including a promising filly by the same sire. Just like Leica Lucy last year, The Dirty Dee (NZ) (Derryn) comes into the Eulogy Stakes after a debut victory on her home track and an unlucky second placing at Trentham in her only other start. | ||
| 5 | Laura's Legacy | 2 | Laura's Legacy (NZ) (Ocean Park) failed to meet her $40,000 reserve at Karaka 2024, but she has been quick to show real protential on the racetrack. She won on debut at New Plymouth on November 21, then was beaten by a long neck and a neck when third at Trentham on December 6. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Psd, Res $40,000 |
| 6 | Capaci | 8 | The Eulogy Stakes will be only the second career start for Capaci (NZ) (Tivaci), who scored an impressive debut victory by two and a quarter lengths over 1400 metres at New Plymouth on December 4. She is the second of two runners in the race for New Plymouth trainer Robbie Patterson. | ||
| 7 | Cheeky Devil | 7 | Homeview Bloodstock paid $50,000 to buy Cheeky Devil (NZ) (Contributer) from Book 1 of Karaka 2024. The Lauren Brennan-trained filly finished fourth in her only start as a two-year-old, then resumed with a close third over 1200 metres at Avondale on November 6. In her only start since then, she scored a strong maiden win over 1230 metres at Rotorua on December 5. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Homeview Bloodstock, $50,000 |
| 8 | Kawakawa | 6 | Kawakawa (NZ) (Per Incanto) was a $160,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2024. She has had a win and a placing from five starts and most recently finished seventh in the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Toking/Stephen Gray Racing/Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA), $160,000 |