Fillies Poised for Penultimate Filly Series Battle

With the last race in New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2013 Filly of the Year Series – the Group 1 NZ Oaks -just over two weeks away, Saturday’s $70,000 Group 3 Bruce Perry Bloodstock Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hawke’s Bay is the penultimate chance to collect valuable points towards the 2013 crown.

Nine of the 11 fillies lining up in Saturday’s Group 3 hold a nomination for the Oaks giving many their last hit out before the final showdown.

Heading the field are Lucky Country (Darci Brahma) and High Fashion (High Chaparral), with the staunch rivalry already witnessed between these two fillies set to continue. High Fashion beat Lucky Country two starts ago in Race 7 of the 10-race Series – the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes – only to see the tables turned at the pair’s last start in the Oaks Prelude on 16 February.

High Fashion currently holds the most points in the Series of those lining up on Saturday, with six, although the four fillies ahead of her on board are all sitting comfortably outside striking distance: Fix (27.5), Soriano (19), Rollout the Carpet (15), Waterford (8.5). Saturday’s winner will collect 6 points from the Group 3, with second place earning 3 points and third earning 1.5.

Current NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series leader Emerald Queen (O’Reilly) is a Listed race winner and Group 3 placed behind Soriano over 1600m. She has not had much luck in her last few outings but has raced well in Group 1 company when running an unlucky fifth in the NZB 1000 Guineas in November.

Lisa Latta’s If I Can I Can (Iffraaj) has produced two good performances to finish just two lengths from the winner at her last two starts after leading the field in both races, the first to High Fashion in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes and then to Lucky Country in the Oaks Prelude.

The Waikato Stud raced Chandelier (O’Reilly) and Ishiguru filly Set me Free are both lightly tried fillies who have broken maiden ranks and Saturday’s race will be the pair’s first race beyond a mile.

A winner of two from five raceday outings, Sworntoperfection (Perfectly Ready) will back up in the Group 3 after taking her second win at Otaki over 1600 metres on Saturday.

Fiftyshadesofgrey (Savabeel) comes into the field after running third over 2000 metres in early February, making her one of the few fillies in the field to have raced over a middle-distance trip.

The Pencarrow Stud raced North of Sunset (Red Ransom) is not currently nominated for the Group 1 NZ Oaks and she is only lightly tried with Saturday’s race to be just the seventh of her career. She won her first race two starts ago at Taranaki over a mile.

Trainer John Sargent will have two runners in the field, Jimato (Handsome Ransom) and La Vitesse (Darci Brahma), who both hold nominations for the Oaks. Breaking her maiden three starts ago, Jimato contested both the Desert Gold Stakes and Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at her last two starts finishing back in the field on both occasions. La Vitesse recorded her maiden victory November and has had a small break from the track having not raced since the NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO Mile (Res.L) in late January.

To view the current points table for New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series, click here.

The winner of Saturday’s $70,000 Group 3 Bruce Perry Bloodstock Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hawke’s Bay will earn 6 Series points with second earning 3 points and third 1.5 points. The NZ Oaks on 16 March will offer 12 points for first, 7 for second and 3.5 for third.