Filly of the Year Series Heats Up in Hastings

This Saturday at Hastings will feature the running of the penultimate race in New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, the $70,000 Group 3 Lowland Stakes (2100m).

The ninth leg of the coveted Filly of the Year Series, the Lowland Stakes has attracted a line-up of 11 fillies, four of which are in prominent positions on the Filly of the Year Series points table.

Currently leading the Filly of the Year Series is Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock x Akris) who will be lining up on Saturday. With 20 points in the Series already - 6 clear of her nearest rival - and 6 points to Saturday's winner, a victory in the Group 3 would give her a big lead in the Series heading into the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks on 17 March.

A winner of the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas and the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day, Planet Rock ran a good fourth in the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic behind Zurella at her last start on 11 February. She has drawn wide in barrier 10 with Damian Browne to ride for Peter and Dawn Williams.

Getting the better of Planet Rock last start at Te Rapa, Zurella (Zabeel x Doneze Girl) won the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic for trainer Shaune Ritchie, taking her to second place in the Series with 14 points. The winner of the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes four starts ago, she is looking unlikely to start in the Lowland Stakes with sights set on the Group 1 New Zealand Derby at Ellerslie for her this Saturday.

Sitting in third place in the Series with 12 points, the Lisa Latta trained Capital Diamond (Lucky Unicorn x Diamond Smile) has not won a leg in the Filly of the Year Series but has placed in four including third in the Group 1 1000 Guineas, she was just run down by Quintessential in the Desert Gold Stakes and at last start in the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic she ran a very close second to Zurella. She will be ridden by regular jockey Jonathan Riddell sporting the Cambridge Stud colours.

Winner of the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes two starts ago, Quintessential (Fast 'N' Famous x Florette) put in an impressive performance when nosing out fellow race rival Capital Diamond right at the post. Last start she was hot on the heels of Zurella and Capital Diamond in the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic to finish a close third. She has won three of her six starts for trainer John Sargent and currently sits in fifth place in the Series with eight points.

Fast 'N' Famous will also be represented with the Kevin Hughes trained Consummate (ex Ngaio) who takes her place after winning her last start at Ellerslie over 2000m. She will be ridden by David Walker on Saturday in what will be her first start in the Filly of the Year Series.

The Graeme & Debbie Rogerson trained Savasong (Savabeel x Songfest) will also be making her Series debut after breaking her maiden two starts back followed by a close second to Our Ko Ko (Istidaad x Our Preference) at Taranaki in the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Oaks Prelude. She has drawn barrier three with Samantha Collett to ride.

Shaune Ritchie will saddle Forgive No Forget (ex Mejeiro), one of two fillies by Darci Brahma in the Lowland Stakes. The winner of two races had her last start in the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic where she ran 13^th, she will be ridden by Darryl Bradley from barrier seven on Saturday.

Darci Brahma's other representative in the race will be the Rachael Frost trained Poetic Licence (ex Lalla) jumping from barrier eight on Series debut with Vanessa Johnston in the saddle.

Racing from barrier six in the Lowland Stakes the Howie Mathews trained Poste Restante (Postponed x Little Tee) ran fifth in the Desert Gold Stakes followed by third last start in the St Leger Trial at Otaki over 2100 metres.

Starting from opposite sides of the gates, Blooming Hell (Volksraad x Our Prized Rose) will jump from barrier 11 for trainer Richard Sherwin while the Gary Vile trained Myminkcoat (Coats Choice x Gillygate) has drawn number one. Both will be having their first trip over 2000 metres on Saturday.

The winner of Saturday's $70,000 Group 3 Lowland Stakes (2100m) will receive 6 points in New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, with second earning 3 points and third earning 1.5 points.

The Lowland Stakes will be held at Hastings racecourse at 4.06pm. To view the current points table and race schedule for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, click here.