Fillies Looking to Close Gap on Series Leader

With just three races left in New Zealand Bloodstock’s 10-race Filly of the Year Series, the title is wide open with current Series leader Costa Viva (Encosta de Lago) absent from this weekend’s Group 2 $100,000 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa.

Spellbinder (NZ) winning the Karaka 3YO Mile last start.

The two likely favourites for Saturday’s event would move to within striking range of Costa Viva if they were to win: Hera (NZ) (O’Reilly) sits on 8 points in the Series following her win in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic, and Spellbinder (NZ) (O’Reilly) is only half a point behind with 7.5 points.

A field of 11 has been assembled for the Group 2 Fillies Classic, with the highest-rated horse in the race being Spellbinder with an impeccable raceday record of four wins from six starts, along with two placings at Group 1 and Group 3 level. The Jason Bridgman trained O’Reilly filly was a dominant winner of the Karaka 3YO Mile at her last start and will have the services of the country’s leading rider Matthew Cameron.

Second to Spellbinder in the Karaka 3YO Mile was Hera for trainer Roger James. Another filly by Champion Sire O’Reilly, Hera has only finished out of the first three twice in her 10-start career. After beating Series leader Costa Viva in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic she chased home Spellbinder on a slow track at Ellerslie in the Karaka 3YO Mile. She will start from barrier 9 on Saturday.

The Tony Pike and Mark Donoghue trained Royal Dominance (NZ) (Shinko King) is the next highest rated filly in the race. The Shinko King filly appreciated the rise in distance in the Group 2 Royal Stakes last start, finishing third over 2000m. With the top two horses in the book unseen over a middle distance, Royal Dominance appears the strongest danger to the fillies starting from barrier 7.

Improving filly Chop Chop (NZ) (Guillotine) has won her last two starts including a victory over 1600m on Wellington Cup Day at Trentham. Trained by Shaune Ritchie, the Guillotine filly has won or placed in four out of her five starts and will jump from barrier 10.

Well-regarded filly Miss Mossman (NZ) (Mossman) broke through for her second career victory last start in her own grade after competing against the best three-year-olds this season, including a trip to Riccarton for the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas. Prepared by trans-Tasman trainer John Sargent, along with Hayden Allen, the daughter of Mossman will be ridden by Danielle Johnson from barrier 3.

The Fire Inside (NZ) (Sir Percy) was a strong winner at Tauranga last start to take her record to two wins and two placings from five starts. Trained by Michael Moroney and Chad Ormsby, The Fire Inside will start from barrier 11 for regular rider Mark Sweeney.

Proven sire Pentire is represented by Hot Rod (NZ) (Pentire) in the Saturday’s Group 2 feature. A winner three starts ago on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, the Paul & Kris Shailer trained filly has run fair races in Filly of the Year Series races in her two starts since and will be ridden by Kelly Myers from barrier 8.

Nicholas Bishara’s Her Choice (NZ) (Coats Choice) ran a strong race last start to finish fourth in the Group 2 Royal Stakes over 2000m, appreciating the step up in distance. The Coats Choice filly raced greenly last start after hitting the lead early in the run home. She will jump from barrier 4.

Three maiden fillies round out the field with Apache Fireworks (NZ) (Sir Percy) and Eyeful Tower (NZ) (Le Bec Fin) both finishing runner-up at their last appearances, and Toetwotoe (NZ) (Teofilo) an unlucky fourth at her last start.

The winner of the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic will receive 8 points in the Filly of the Year Series, with second collecting 4 points and third placing picking up 2 points. Including this weekend’s race, there are only three races left in the Series with the Group 3 Lowland Stakes and Group 1 New Zealand Oaks the remaining opportunity to gain points in the Series.

The Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic is due to be run at Race 5 at 3.09pm on a Premier Day’s racing at Te Rapa, with the full field available for viewing here.