Grace Park Leads NZB Southern Filly Series
16 April 2007
Grace Park (Danske x Stella Stargazer) shot to the top of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series leaderboard with a decisive win in the NZ$50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.
Trained by Steve Anderton, the three-year-old surged down the middle of the track to storm past a gallant, but fading, One Love (Danasinga x Jackie O') to secure her one-and-three-quarter length victory. Starting a successful day for Anderton, Terry Moseley and Grace Park provided the Wingatui based trainer with his first stakes win since commencing training on his own account at the start of this season.
With two wins and four seconds from just eight starts, Grace Park has taken her career earnings to over NZ$50,000. Saturday's win adds seven points to her previous three in the Series after a last-start second to One Love in the NZ$50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.
One Love and Dorabella (Postponed x Caserio), who is spelling, hold second equal spot on seven points apiece.
Tim Ryan's trip South with Dutyful (Deputy Governor x Diana Ferrari) paid off with her impressive effort for second place. The strong finishing filly was sold by Hallmark Stud at the 2005 Karaka Festival Sale for NZ$20,000 and is raced by Ms S A Beckett & R C Ward. She now sits on three points.
Just a nose back was the Kevin Hughes trained Baci (Bertolini x Calm Conqueror), securing one point in the Series. Bruce Perry bought her at the 2005 Karaka Select Sale for NZ$32,000 from Rich Hill Stud.
Focus now turns to the final race in the Series, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday 5 May.