First Lead Change Looms in NZB Filly of the Year Series
27 February 2025
Speedy filly Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) has topped the points table since the NZB Filly of the Year Series began last September, but that could be about to change this weekend.
The ninth leg of the series, the $150,000 Group Two Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m), will be run at Trentham on Sunday and is worth 8 points to the winner, 4 for second and 2 for third.
Alabama Lass earned 21 points from a spring campaign that produced wins in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) and Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and a second placing in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). But she then switched to sprinting, going on to run second against older horses in the Group One Sistema Railway (1200m) in January. She will play no further part in this series.
In the meantime, Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) has amassed 20 points with her back-to-back-to-back victories in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m), Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m). She has dominated the second half of the NZB Filly of the Year Series so far and will move into the lead if she finishes in the top three in Sunday’s Lowland Stakes.
The only other fillies in Sunday’s field with NZB Filly of the Year Series points to their name are Connello (NZ) (Time Test) with 6 and Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree) with 2. However, impressive recent winners such as Dubai Gold (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), Everymoveyoumake (NZ) (Almanzor), Alaskan (NZ) (Niagara) and Monologue (NZ) (Contributer) could yet make their presence felt in the series. The Lowland Stakes is a crucial lead-up for the all-important Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m), which will be worth 12 points for first, 7 for second and 3.5 for third.
The Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes will be run as Race 8 at Trentham on Sunday, with a scheduled start time of 4.42pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leica Lucy | 2 | Taranaki filly Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) has dominated the second half of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, stringing together three consecutive victories in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m), Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) and Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic (2000m). She has rapidly racked up 20 points, putting her within a single point of the lead. A top-three finish in this race will put her on top of the leaderboard. | ||
| 2 | Connello | 8 | Since scoring back-to-back wins in October, Connello (NZ) (Time Test) has been a consistent performer in stakes company. She ran fifth in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and sixth in the Listed O'Learys Fillies' Stakes (1340m), then chased home Leica Lucy for second placings in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). Connello has earned 6 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. She has turned her $10,000 purchase price as a weanling into more than $150,000 in stakes. | 2022 National Weanling Sale | DK Woodhouse, $10,000 |
| 3 | Myakkabelle | 1 | Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree) was a $55,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023. She has banked more than $80,000 from a nine-race career so far, winning twice and placing on another four occasions. She has finished fifth in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m), fourth in the Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) and a last-start third in the Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic (2000m). Myakkabelle has earned 2 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. | Karaka 2023, Book 1 | Brewers Bloodstock, $55,000 |
| 4 | Alaskan | 6 | The Oaks Stud's homebred filly Alaskan (NZ) (Niagara) finished seventh on debut over 1600 metres, then stepped up in distance for a third over 2100 metres, an impressive win over 2100 metres, and a strong-finishing fifth in the Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies' Classic (2000m). | ||
| 5 | Cotton Roca | 4 | Cotton Roca (NZ) (El Roca) was offered during Book 2 of Karaka 2023 and failed to meet her $20,000 reserve. She scored a smart maiden win over 1340 metres two starts ago, then finished close up behind the placegetters when sixth over 1400 metres. This is a big step up in distance. | Karaka 2023, Book 2 | Psd, Res $20,000 |
| 6 | Dubai Gold | 11 | Pride Of Dubai filly Dubai Gold (NZ) was a $110,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2023 by Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Catheryne Bruggeman. She showed promise with a second, two thirds and a fourth from her first six starts, then took a big step forward with a stylish last-start maiden win over 1600 metres at Te Aroha. | Karaka 2023, Book 1 | Ballymore Stables/Paul Moroney Bloodstock/Catheryne Bruggeman, $110,000 |
| 7 | Everymoveyoumake | 7 | By Almanzor out of the stakes-performed mare Santangelo (NZ) (Lonhro), the lightly raced Everymoveyoumake (NZ) has improved throughout her four-start career. She ran eighth on debut over 1200 metres, then finished third over 1560 metres, second over 1600 metres and scored an easy last-start maiden win over 2100 metres. | ||
| 8 | Monologue | 9 | Monologue (NZ) (Contributer) debuted on Boxing Day with a fifth placing over 1400 metres. She stepped up to 1600 metres for her two starts since then, winning at Wanganui on January 20 and finishing a last-start third at Otaki on February 9. | ||
| 9 | Piccolino | 5 | The least experienced filly in this field is Piccolino (NZ) (Proisir), who has had only two starts to date. She was a winner on debut over 1600 metres at Otaki on January 6, then stepped up into stakes class and didn't have all favours when seventh in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) at New Plymouth on February 1. | ||
| 10 | Prentissimo | 10 | Prentissimo (NZ) (Time Test) has had four starts so far, headed by a maiden win over 1300 metres in November. She hasn't raced since early January, but trialled at Waipukurau on February 25. | ||
| 11 | Girl Talk | 12 | Girl Talk (NZ) (Zed) is still a maiden but has shown promise, with her four-start career producing two seconds, a fifth and a sixth. | ||
| 12 | Thrilling | 3 | Thrilling (NZ) (Shocking) has had four starts to date for a third, a fourth, a fifth and a sixth. |