Filly Series Heats Up

Boxing Day's Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m), the half-way mark of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, saw Veloce Bella (Volksraad x Wave to Lottie) emerge as an exciting new candidate for the prestigious title. In front of a huge crowd at Ellerslie, the three-year-old streaked to the lead after a text-book rails�ride by Jim Collett, winning by just under a length from the fast finishing Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road).

In capturing her second Group 2 win the Mark Brosnan trained and�Margaret Hardy bred filly has now amassed NZ$162,850 in prize-money from four wins and two placings in just seven starts.

A Daggers Drawn half-brother to Veloce Bella - herself offered at the 2005 Karaka Select Yearling Sale - will be offered by JK Farm at the upcoming 2007 Karaka Select Yearling Sale.

After an earlier second placing in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One-Thousand Guineas, the Mark Walker-trained Princess Coup earned an additional four points for Tuesday's effort -�propelling herself to second on the Series leaderboard.

Irlanda (O'Reilly x Cenphic), winner of the Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m) last start, was a further length-and-a-quarter behind in third, bolstering her points tally to eight - third equal with Veloce Bella.

Although unplaced in the Eight Carat, One-Thousand Guineas winner, Dorabella (Postponed x Caserio) remains the Series leader on 12 points,�just one�ahead of Princess Coup.

Gathering momentum, the next installment in the Series, the $120,000 Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes, is less than a week away at Ellerslie on New Years Day. Both Veloce Bella and Princess Coup are entered for the race and should appreciate the step up to 2000 metres.

Click here for more information on the NZB Filly of the Year Series or contact Haylie Martin: haylie@nzb.co.nz