Eulogy Stakes Shines Spotlight on Newcomers
8 December 2022
The early stages of the 2022-23 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series have propelled undefeated superstar Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) into a clear and undisputed lead over her generation, but only 2 points separates five talented fillies who sit between third and seventh on the points table.
The fourth leg of the series is Saturday’s $85,000 Group Three LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni, which is worth 6 points to the winner, with 3 points for second and 1.5 for third. All of the 11 fillies in the Eulogy Stakes field are making their Filly of the Year Series debut on Saturday, and one of them will immediately move into third on the points table – an ideal start to their bid for the coveted title and $50,000 in bonus cheques.
Legarto’s spectacular come-from-behind romps in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) have earned her a commanding early lead with 18 points, while Best Seller (NZ) (Wrote) has picked up 13 points through a win in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and a second placing in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
The other five fillies on the points table have all been minor placegetters through the first three legs. Blue Solitaire (NZ) (Almanzor) currently heads that group with 3.5 points, while Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) and Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) have 3 each. Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) and Mazzolino (NZ) (Savabeel) have both earned 1.5 points so far.
The Eulogy Stakes field features several fillies with strong credentials to take up their own positions on that points table. Sophmaze (NZ) (Derryn) is already a Listed winner, having captured the Castletown Stakes (1200m) as a two-year-old, while Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) has placed at Group Three level and all of the other nine contenders have won races this season.
The LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes will be run as Race 8 at Awapuni on Saturday, with a start time of 4.34pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER | TRAINER | JOCKEY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sophmaze | 10 | The only stakes winner in this field, Sophmaze (NZ) (Derryn) has so far recorded two wins and three placings in a seven-start career. She won the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Waverley in June and has since finished second in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Listed Wanganui Guineas (1340m). Bought for $50,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2021, she has banked over $60,000 in stakes. | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | SA Sharrock, $50,000 | Allan Sharrock | Shaun McKay |
| 2 | Pennyweka | 8 | Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) finished third in her only appearance as a two-year-old. She was a well-beaten fourth when she resumed in late September, but took a giant leap forward with a powerful victory in a $60,000 three-year-old race at Hastings on October 15. She was disappointing in her next start at Awapuni, then bounced back in style with a gallant third against male three-year-olds in the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on November 24. | Jim Wallace | Sarah O'Malley | ||
| 3 | Sedaka | 3 | Syndicators Go Racing secured Sedaka (NZ) (Savabeel) for $125,000 from the Valachi Downs Unreserved Young & Racing Stock Dispersal on Gavelhouse Plus earlier this year. She debuted with a third placing at Cambridge in late September, then scored at Tauranga on October 19. She ran second behind subsequent Group Three winner Devastate (NZ) (Vadamos) at the same venue a few weeks later, and in her most recent start she ran sixth in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Te Rapa. | Stephen Marsh | Courtney Barnes | ||
| 4 | Tivaci Princess | 7 | Bought by Awapuni trainer Roydon Bergerson for $100,000 at Karaka 2021, Tivaci Princess (NZ) (Tivaci) has always been held in high regard but managed only one third placing from her first five starts. It was a different story at Trentham last Saturday, where a brilliant late burst carried her to an emphatic victory. | Karaka 2021, Book 1 | RJ Bergerson, $100,000 | Roydon Bergerson | Hakim Kamaruddin |
| 5 | Complicate | 6 | Matamata visitor Complicate (NZ) (Complacent) finished a distant eighth in her only start as a two-year-old but has shown marked improvement in the spring of her three-year-old season. She ran third at Tauranga on October 19, then cleared maiden grade with an impressive performance at Te Rapa on November 5. | Wayne Hillis | Darryl Bradley | ||
| 6 | Family Ties | 1 | Family Ties (NZ) (Contributer) was a $60,000 purchase by David Ellis at the 2021 Ready to Run Sale. She finished third on debut behind subsequent Group Two winner Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh), then scored a smart win in her only other start at Hastings on November 13. | 2021 Ready to Run Sale | DC Ellis, $60,000 | Mark Walker | Joe Kamaruddin |
| 7 | In The Loop | 2 | Increasing distances have been the key to In The Loop (NZ) (Reliable Man) in recent weeks, culminating in a barnstorming finish from second-last to win a 1600-metre maiden at Avondale on November 23. | Mark Brooks | Kate Hercock | ||
| 8 | Librarsi | 4 | New Plymouth filly Librarsi (NZ) (Reliable Man) made a big impression with a slick debut win at Otaki in late June. Since then she has run sixth in the Listed Ryder Stakes (1200m), fourth in the Listed O'Learys Fillies' Stakes (1200m) and third behind the smart Terziere (NZ) (Complacent) at Awapuni in late November. | 2021 Ready to Run Sale | Psd, Res $50,000 | Allan Sharrock | Ashvin Goindasamy |
| 9 | Sakura Girl | 5 | Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj) is a particularly interesting runner in this field for a couple of different reasons. Firstly, she was the highest-priced purchase, being bought by Upper Bloodstock for $260,000 from the 2021 Ready to Run Sale. Secondly, she is the least experienced runner, having had only one previous start for a stylish win at at New Plymouth on October 28. | 2021 Ready to Run Sale | Upper Bloodstock, $260,000 | Ben Foote | |
| 10 | Sequoia Star | 9 | Sequoia Star (NZ) (Redwood) was unplaced in her first two starts, but she has really turned a corner in her last couple of starts. She was a close second at Taupo on September 16, then stepped up to claim her first win at Rotorua on October 27. | John Bary | Temyia Taiaroa | ||
| 11 | Imarichgirl | 11 | Third and fifth in a pair of appearances as a two-year-old, Imarichgirl (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) kicked off her three-year-old season with a third, a second and a fourth before upping her game in style at Avondale. Lining up as favourite in a 1400-metre maiden, she outclassed her opposition by three and a quarter lengths. | Karaka 2021, Book 1 | Psd, Res $80,000 | Andrew Forsman | Lisa Allpress |