Fillies Vie for Group 1 Glory and $100,000 Super Bonus

Three-year-old fillies will be chasing valuable Group 1 success on Saturday in the Group 1 $300,000 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas at Riccarton Park, the second leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, with four fillies racing for an extra $100,000.

O'Marilyn will start as the race-favourite in the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas.

Four fillies are eligible for the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Pearl Series Super Bonus if they are able to win the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas. To be eligible for the Bonus, fillies have to be entered in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series and have been insured with NZB Insurance prior to being nominated for the Series.

A field of 13 fillies from both the North and South Islands has been assembled for the Group 1 1600m feature on Saturday.

Heading the field is Group 1 winner O’Marilyn (O’Reilly), the dominant filly so far this season for trainer Stephen McKee. Unbeaten in two starts as a three-year-old, the daughter of O’Reilly has won the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes, the first leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, and the Group 3 James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes – beating last weekend’s NZ 2000 Guineas winner Turn Me Loose (NZ).

O’Marilyn is eligible for the $100,000 NZB Insurance Pearl Series Super Bonus and will start the warm race-favourite beginning from barrier 1 with Sam Spratt aboard.

The David Greene trained Dramatist (NZ) (Librettist) has strung together three consecutive wins, all with winning margins of two-lengths or more. Rider Leith Innes will ride the filly drawn in barrier 10.

Two-year-old stakes winner Avisto (NZ) (Tavistock) has added two further black-type victories this season, winning two of her three starts as a three-year-old. Trained by Roger James, the daughter of Tavistock will have to overcome the outside barrier of 13.

Also racing for the $100,000 Super Bonus is the Jason Bridgman trained Darci’s Dream (NZ) (Darci Brahma). A winner of two of her three starts this campaign, the daughter of Darci Brahma will start from barrier 7 with David Walsh aboard.

The only filly to compete in last weekend’s NZ 2000 Guineas and back up this weekend is the Lisa Latta trained Platinum Witness (California Dane). Finishing fourth last Saturday, Platinum Witness had previously won the Listed Armadillo Stakes on the course over 1600m. She will be ridden once again by Darryl Bradley from barrier 8.

The first southern hope in the field is Belle Miraaj (NZ) (Iffraaj), trained by Gay Robinson at Ascot Park. The winner of her first three starts, the daughter of Iffraaj was beaten for the first time when third in the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes last start. Hayden Tinsley will be aboard the filly drawn barrier 5 and will also be racing for the $100,000 Super Bonus.

Runner-up to Platinum Witness in the Armadillo Stakes last start was Consensus (NZ) (Postponed). A winner of two races from six starts for trainer Leo Molloy, Consensus has been runner-up at her last two starts, both at Listed level. She will begin from barrier 11 with Chris Johnson riding.

The second runner from Jason Bridgman’s stable is Flaming (NZ) (Bachelor Duke), a winner as juvenile. The daughter of Bachelor Duke was a promising second fresh up as a three-year-old when runner-up behind O’Marilyn in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes. Stable rider Matthew Cameron will ride the filly from barrier 12 and she is also eligible for the $100,000 Super Bonus.

Entering the race as the winner of half of her four starts is Bonniegirl (NZ) (Darci Brahma). Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, who won the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas last weekend, Bonniegirl will start from barrier 9 for rider Mark du Plessis.

Locally trained filly La Veuve (NZ) (Iffraaj) has only had four starts, never finishing further back than fourth. A winner three starts ago, the daughter of Iffraaj was a last start second in the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes for trainers Shane Kennedy & Anna Furlong. Rider Craig Grylls has the mount from a handy barrier of 3.

Another daughter of Iffaaj Caramac (NZ) enters the race as a winner on the course when victorious on debut for trainer Kevin Myers. Starting from barrier 4, Caramac will be ridden by Rosie Myers.

The second runner from the Baker & Forsman stable is Matakana (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), a winner as a two-year-old. The daughter of Mastercraftsman has been third in her two starts as a three-year-old and will start from barrier 6 for leading rider Opie Bosson.

Rounding out the field is southerner It Aint Over (NZ) (Cecconi) for trainer Peter Rudkin. A last start course and distance winner, the daughter of Cecconi will start from barrier 2 for rider Vinnie Colgan.

The winner of the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas will receive 12 points towards the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, with second placing collecting 7 points and third earning 3.5 points. To view the full field for the Group 1 $300,000 New Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, click here.