Four Fillies in Contention for Southern Filly Title
18 April 2018
An exciting New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series draws to a close in Saturday’s $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton, with four fillies lining up to take their shot at the title.
The fourth and final leg of the Series is worth 7 points to the winner. Courte Zarindi (NZ) (Any Suggestion) tops the table with 9 points and will try to put the issue beyond doubt with victory in the Warstep Stakes, while race rivals Respin (NZ) (Power) and Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) are both within striking distance with 7 points apiece.
Beneficial (NZ) (Highly Recommended), who sits in equal fourth place with 4 points, could also take the title if she wins the Warstep Stakes, provided Courte Zarindi finishes no better than third.
Saturday’s race also carries a significant North Island flavour as Caricature (NZ) (Power), a commendable last-start fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m), makes her Southern Filly Series debut.
The Warstep Stakes will be run as Race 7 on Saturday’s nine-race programme, with a scheduled start time of 3.19pm.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Caricature | 5 | Carrying the colours of the China Horse Club, the $600,000 Premier Sale graduate Caricature (NZ) (Power) was a maiden winner in January before placing in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) and Group 3 Lowland Stakes (2100m). In her most recent start she was fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m). | Tony Pike | Johnathan Parkes |
| 2 | Kiwi Ida | 15 | Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) winner Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) was an impressive sprint winner on March 24, then stepped up to 1600 metres and boxed on well for eighth in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes. | John & Karen Parsons | |
| 3 | Courte Zarindi | 6 | The current Southern Filly Series leader, $600 weanling purchase Courte Zarindi (NZ) (Any Suggestion) won the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) before finishing a close third in the NZB Insurance Stakes. | Sally McKay | Tina Comignaghi |
| 4 | Respin | 16 | $28,000 Select Sale purchase Respin (NZ) (Power) has had five starts for two wins and two placings, most recently a come-from-behind win in the NZB Insurance Stakes. | Terri Rae | Darryl Bradley |
| 5 | The Sparkle | 4 | Darci Brahma filly The Sparkle (NZ) has been a consistent black-type performer this season - fourth in the Listed Zacinto Stakes (1600m), fourth in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m), fourth in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m), fifth in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m), second in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m), fifth in the NZB Airfreight Stakes and sixth in the NZB Insurance Stakes. | Dennis Bros & Robert Dennis | Jason Laking |
| 6 | The Lustre | 1 | A brilliant third in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas in the spring, The Lustre (NZ) (Darci Brahma) has subsequently run 13th in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), ninth in the Southland Guineas and 11th in the NZB Insurance Stakes. | Dennis Bros & Robert Dennis | Jacob Lowry |
| 7 | Beneficial | 3 | The last two starts have been the best yet for Beneficial (NZ) (Highly Recommended), who pushed Kiwi Ida to a nose in a Riccarton sprint before finishing a desperately close second in the NZB Insurance Stakes. | Ross Beckett | Kylie Williams |
| 8 | Pinup Coup | 10 | Pinup Coup (NZ) (Pins) has won two of her nine starts, along with two close fifths at stakes level - the Desert Gold Stakes and the NZB Insurance Stakes. | Michael & Matthew Pitman | Chris Johnson |
| 9 | Greenpark Gem | 14 | Greenpark Gem (NZ) (Highly Recommended) has had five top-five finishes in her seven-start career, including a close fourth in the NZB Insurance Stakes - three noses from the winner. | Mandy & Matt Brown | Racha Cuneen |
| 10 | Podravina | 8 | Well-bred and lightly-raced filly Podravina (NZ) (Bel Esprit) finished eighth on debut and has won or placed in all three subsequent starts. This is her black-type debut. | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Lisa Allpress |
| 11 | Fictitious | 2 | After showing good form in lower grades, Fictitious (NZ) (Ocean Park) stepped up to stakes level in the NZB Insurance Stakes. After being blocked in the straight, she finished ninth and 2.8 lengths from the winner. | Lisa Latta | Masa Tanaka |
| 12 | Gipsyrocker | 7 | Well-bred Fastnet Rock filly Gipsyrocker began her career in the north before relocating to Terri Rae's Riccarton stable, where she easily won a trial and a maiden race at Timaru. | Terri Rae | Samantha Wynne |
| 13 | Mercy Hill | 11 | All American filly Mercy Hill finished fourth in her first two starts before an impressive last-start maiden win. | Richard Collett | Alysha Collett |
| 14 | Mossy Creek | 9 | Mossy Creek (Casino Prince) finished 13th in the NZB Insurance Stakes, eight lengths behind the winner. | Brian & Shane Anderton | Courtney Barnes |
| 15 | Wee Gilly | 13 | Wee Gilly (NZ) (Roc de Cambes) made her debut late last month with a fifth placing, followed by a fourth and a last-start maiden win. | Bill Thurlow | Leah Hemi |
| 16 | Za Za Gabor | 12 | O'Reilly filly Za Za Gabor raced wide in the NZB Insurance Stakes before finishing 10th. | Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard | Terry Moseley |