Full And Classy Field For First Race In Nzb Filly Of The Year Series

Saturday's Gr.3 Highview Stakes (1200m) at Hawkes Bay is the first race of the 2003-04 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series and has attracted a large field of talented fillies ready to compete for points in the prestigious title, despite the likely heavy track conditions.

With 16 of the 18 horse field all having won at least one race, competition is likely to be fierce. Runners who have had more than one win include the two Stephen and Trevor McKee trained fillies Pay My Bail and Look At Moiye, Katrina Alexander trained Kalamata, Bryan Wadham trained Eminem and Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge trained Taatletail.

With their 2YO racing only recently finished the fillies will be vying for the initial points available in the series. A brief race history of the runners in Saturday's race follows:

Pay My Bail (Justice Prevails x Ebony Jane) 8 starts for 4 wins as a 2YO. Won the Listed Avondale JC New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Fillies Stakes, won the Listed ARC Champagne Stakes and won the Listed Waikato RC Fairview Ford Stakes.

Kalamata (Desert Prince x Kirtlington) 2 starts for 2 wins as a 3YO, including a recent impressive win in the Listed Wanganui JC Waikato Stud Stakes.

Look At Moiye (O'Reilly x Facing The Music) 4 starts for 2 wins and 1 second as a 2YO including a 2nd in the Listed Levin RC Ryder Stakes.

Dragon Maiden (Mughtanim x Hellreigel) 7 starts. 2 wins and one second as a 2YO and unplaced in 1 start as a 3YO. Won the Gr.3 Taranaki RC Taranaki 2YO Classic

Bless (Slavic x Blue Tess) 11 starts. 2 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third as a 2YO and unplaced from 1 start as a 3YO. Won the Listed Whangarei RC Northland Breeders Stakes. 4th in the Listed Counties RC Counties Challenge Stakes.

Magistra Delecta (Al Akbar x Grosvenor's Girl) 6 starts. 2 wins, 1 second as a 2YO and third from 1 start as a 3YO. 3rd in the Listed Wanganui JC Waikato Stud Stakes.

Sarah Vee (End Sweep x Captivating) 4 starts for 1 win and 2 thirds as a 2YO including a 3rd in the Gr.1 ARC Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes and 3rd in the Gr.3 Taranaki RC Taranaki 2YO Classic.

Eminem (Masterclass x Our Martee) 10 starts for 1 second and 1 third as a 2YO and 2 wins as a 3YO.

Taatletail (Faltaat x Defensive Lady) 2 starts for 1 win as a 2YO and 1 win as a 3YO.

Rapid Kay (Towkay x Racing Waters) 2 starts for 1 win and 1 third as a 2YO. 3rd in the Listed Avondale JC New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Fillies Stakes.

Rutland Lass (Hadaad x She's Good) 15 starts for 2 wins, 1 second and 1 third as a 2YO. Unplaced from 2 starts as a 3YO.

Catscan (Tale of the Cat x Transluscent) 7 starts for 1 win and 1 third as a 2YO. 4th in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes and 4th in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders Stakes.

Quivira (Spinning World x Wichita) 2 starts for 1 win as a 2YO and 1 third as a 3YO.

Scene Steeler (Danasinga x Zanira) 5 starts for 1 win and 1 second as a 2YO including a 4th in the Listed Waikato RC Fairview Ford Stakes.

J'Lo (Unbridled's Song x Jen's Halo) 2 starts for 1 win as a 2YO.

The Bell Ringer (Masterclass x Buzz My Bell) Unraced as a 2YO. 1 start for 1 win as a 3YO.

Pink (Straight Stike x Ebony Glow) 9 starts for 1 win as a 2YO. Unplaced as a 3YO.

Ocean Melodie (Unbridled's Song x French Tide) 1 start for 1 second as a 2YO.

There is a possibility it could be an all popstar trifecta with fillies named Eminem, J'Lo and Pink all nominated in the race.
Last year's race was won by Molly Dot Com (Slavic x Palace Lady), with Volksini (Volksraad x Indochine) taking second place and Savuka (Royal Academy x Misty Baby) in third.

The points available for Saturday's race are 6 points for first, 3 points for second and 1.5 points for third.

The 2003-2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series can be followed by viewing www.nzb.co.nz where the points table for each series is regularly updated after each race.