Fanatic (NZ) Claims Oaks, Sofia Rosa (NZ) the NZB Filly of the Year in Dramatic Finale

The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series remained very much alive heading into Saturday’s final leg, the $300,000 Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham, and it reached a dramatic conclusion as Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi) claimed the title despite losing the race on protest to Fanatic (NZ) (Shocking).

Six of the 16 fillies in the $300,000 classic went into the race with a chance of winning the NZB Filly of the Year Series. At the forefront were Sofia Rosa and Mime (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), two highly talented fillies who shared the Series lead and were the two favourites for the race following impressive last-start stakes successes.

Sofia Rosa looked set to live up to expectations as she loomed on the outside and took the lead in the home straight, but then the 62-to-one outsider Fanatic turned things upside down with a flying finish. She charged down the outside and quickly came up alongside the leader.

But Sofia Rosa fought back and the two fillies fought an epic struggle through the last 100 metres, with Sofia Rosa getting the judge’s verdict by a nose. That result was reversed on protest, however, as Sofia Rosa drifted out in the concluding stages and made contact with the runner-up.

Fanatic was ridden to Oaks success by Mark Hills for Te Awamutu trainers Graeme Sanders and Debbie Sweeney.

“It’s always really special to win these big Group Ones, especially one like the Oaks,” Sweeney said. “We’re really happy.”

Fanatic has now had two wins and two placings from 12 starts, earning $185,475 for her owner-breeder Sean Kiernan. This was her first top-three finish in a NZB Filly of the Year Series race, so she finishes in equal fourth spot with 12 points. But she had produced strong late finishes to run seventh in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic and fourth in the Group 3 Lowland Stakes in her last two runs before the Oaks.

“She’s always shown us a lot of promise,” Sweeney said. “Her run in the Lowland was really good and her run in the Sir Tristram Fillies’ Classic before that was good as well.”

The 7 points Sofia Rosa earned for finishing second took her to NZB Filly of the Year Series victory with 21 points.

Oaks third placegetter Strada Cavallo (NZ) (Alamosa), who was placed in the NZB 1000 Guineas in November, picked up another Group 1 placing with her excellent performance on Saturday. She picked up another 3.5 points, taking her to second place on the table with 15 points.

Mime finished fourth in the Oaks, unable to add to her tally of 14 points and finishing third in the Filly of the Year Series.