Girls on Show in NZB Breeders' Stakes

A full field with some of New Zealand's most promising fillies and mares is set to contest the $150,000 Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on Saturday.

Amongst the likely stars, Porotene Gem (Pins x Rubyfoo) lines up as the only runner with a Group 1 win to her credit. The Kevin Gray filly has drawn barrier 12 and will be ridden by David Walsh.

Kemp and Anne Broughton purchased the filly at the 2004 National Weanling Sale for NZ$5,000 from Delph Common. Saturday will be her third start back since a stone bruise interrupted her season after her Levin Classic win over Jokers Wild in November.

Waikato Stud features prominently in the line up, with five of the eighteen runners being sired by their stallions. More impressively, the Stud bred three of the contestants - the six-year-old Sarajay (Danasinga x Sriwijaya), four-year old Centapin (Pins x Centakin) and three-year-old Irlanda (O'Reilly x Cenphic).

Centapin and Irlanda are both are owned by a syndicate including Rob and Alan Burnet and Colleen and Alan Jackson. They were purchased at the 2004 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$36,000 and the 2005 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$38,000 respectively. Of the two, Irlanda seems the most talented showing hints of brilliance in her short eight-race career. Vinny Colgan takes the ride on the Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes winner and will need to call on her impressive acceleration to overcome her major obstacle - the number 18 barrier draw.

Both are trained at Matamata by Lance Noble who reported that they both worked well on the sand this morning, similarly having strong hit-outs finishing the last 600m around the 37 second mark.

As if two reasonable chances in New Zealand's richest filly and mare race isn't enough, New South Wales based Rob Burnet has forgone a trip to New Zealand in favour of heading to Randwick to cheer on the group's Group 1 AJC Derby runner, Karaka graduate Fianchetto (Montjeu x Madame Faubourg).

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�Adrian Clark's Sarajay taking out the Listed Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie�on 7 March.

Matamata trainer John Sargent has a strong two pronged attack with Noel Harris on Sarajay while Opie Bosson takes the ride on Penny Florence (Pentire x Neo Classic).

Trevor McKee purchased Sarajay at the 2002 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$90,000 from Waikato Stud. She is owned by prominent industry personality Adrian Clark who is thrilled to have a runner in the race.

Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge also have two runners. With winning form of late comes the Peter and Philip Vela bred and owned, Vercors (Catbird x Alpine). The four-year-old recently won the Listed Wairarapa Breeders' Stakes (1600m) under Darryl Bradley who retains the ride for Saturday. She is the first foal from the Zabeel mare, Alpine, whose second foal, Huluava (Pins) won impressively yesterday at Matamata for the Mark Walker stable.

The stable's other runner, Authoress (Fuji Kiseki x Weaver of Words), has a difficult barrier draw to overcome and looks more suited to greater distances.

The field is completed by Rosetti Bay (Pins x Crown Rose), Pentazia (Pentire x Rule Brittania), Captivate (Stravinsky x Cappie), Sent to Sea (Crested Wave x Address), La Force (Faltaat x Sky Court), Sista (Magic of Sydney x Blister), Ististar (Istidaad x Marlanda Star), Electra Dee (Colombia x Bay d'Ore), Coral Bay (Shinko King x Holiday Resort), Loaded Command (Commands x Loaded Lady) and Kim Possible (Volksraad x Thunderchine). The emergency starter is Racey Lady (O'Reilly x Wobinda Lass).

Sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock since it's elevation to Group 1 status in 2002, the last five Breeders' Stakes winners were Surprize Surprize, Zirna, Saint Cecile, Rockabubble and Arlingtonboulevard.