Floozie Books her Place in G1 NZ Oaks
5 March 2015
Fetching points towards New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series was Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) in a competitive victory in the Group 3 $70,000 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) yesterday at Ellerslie.
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Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) wins the Group 3 McKee Family Sunline Vase. |
Last start winner over 1800m, Thee Auld Floozie has now won four of her nine starts with this being her first win at stakes level. Trained by Stephen Marsh, she has been unlucky in her first two attempts to earn points in the Filly Series.
“I am really happy with her and it was a great run from an Oaks perspective,” commented Marsh. “She jumped well and settled nicely. Her last two runs at Ellerslie she got back and hit the line on slow tempos. Today she sat just in behind the speed, following the two favourites which was nice and out-toughed them at the end.
“She went through bit of a lull but she is back to her best now.”
Ridden by Danielle Johnson, Thee Auld Floozie jumped from barrier 4 to settle one off the rail mid-field. As the race progressed, Gin Swing (NZ) (Keeper) led the field of eight with Thee Auld Floozie tracking behind race-favourite Saavoya (NZ) (Savabeel), who sat on the outside of Gin Swing.
The fillies levelled out on the home-straight with a very close battle between Saavoya and Thee Auld Floozie as they stretched to the winning post. Thee Auld Floozie was a touch too strong for Saavoya on this occasion, reaching out and winning by a long head. Karaka graduates Saavoya and Charmont (High Chaparral) finished in second and third places.
“Looking towards the Oaks, I’m really confident running her over 2400m. The good thing about her is she jumps and puts herself in the race and then just goes to sleep over a mile, nothing seems to faze her. I don’t think she is a dead set stayer but I think this time in over 2400m, she’ll get there,” said Marsh.
Winning the ninth leg in the Series has increased Thee Auld Floozie’s prizemoney to $93,460 for owners P Craighead, L Ford, S Marsh, M Roughead, Two Fat Cows Syndicate and J & Mrs S Young.
Bred by J Young, Thee Auld Floozie is out of stakes winning mare Thee Auld Hussie (Spinning World), winner of the Listed Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes and the Listed Marton 1600 Handicap.
Thee Auld Floozie has earned herself six points towards NZB Filly of the Year Series, Saavoya took home 3 points, now taking the lead totalling 23 points, and Charmont received 1.5 points to secure a total of 5.5 points.
This was the first year the Sunline Vase has been a leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series. The race, run at Auckland Racing Club’s Ellerslie Racecourse, is a key lead-up race to the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks. There have been two winners of the Sunline Vase go on to win the NZ Oaks, with Artistic (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and More Than Sacred (More Than Ready) both winning at Ellerslie prior to winning at Trentham. 2009 NZ Oaks winner, Jungle Pocket (NZ) (Jungle Rocket), was second in the Sunline Vase prior to her win in the Group 1 feature.
To view the NZB Filly of the Year Leaderboard, click here.
The final leg of the 10-race Series will be held on 14 March with the running of the Group 1 $300,000 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks at Trentham over 2400m.
The Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks is also the final race in the Wellfield Lodge Triple Crown Series.