Group Two Treble for Superb Self Obsession (NZ)

Outstanding filly Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking) soared into the lead in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series with another commanding performance in Wednesday’s $110,000 Group Two Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings – her third consecutive Group Two win.

The Jamie Richards-trained runner headed into Wednesday’s ninth leg of the series with 16 points to her name, three behind her stablemate Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy). She now leads with 24 points, and she is the one they all have to beat in the Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham later this month.

Self Obsession began her career with a third placing at Tauranga in late November, and she has been flawless ever since. She won a maiden race by almost four lengths at Tauranga in December, then joined the NZB Filly of the Year Series fray with a hard-fought win in the Group Two Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.

She repeated that result in last month’s Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa, and on Wednesday she made it three in a row.

Ridden by Michael McNab, Self Obsession settled into a comfortable rhythm just behind a solid pace set by local longshot One Dream One Soul (NZ) (Ekraar).

That rival kicked aw

ay in the straight and was going to take some catching, but Self Obsession warmed into her work and slowly but surely wore the leader down.

Self Obsession collared One Dream One Soul inside the last 75 metres and edged ahead for a narrow but emphatic half-length win. Flash Mary (NZ) (El Roca) finished another two and a quarter lengths away in third.

“What a great win,” Richards said. “Gee, she’s tough. She was able to relax just off the speed on a good tempo, and she was given a lovely ride by Michael.

“She was coming all the way down the straight and always looked as though she had the race within her grasp.

“She’s a great staying filly, although she is no oil painting and maybe not one you’d put your hand up to buy at the yearling sales. But I’m very thankful to David Price and Jenny Chapman in Hong Kong, who bred and race her, and Mark and Vicki Baker at Hallmark Stud for sending her down to us to train in Matamata.

“We’re all really looking forward to the Oaks.”

Wednesday’s Lowland Stakes placegetters One Dream One Soul and Flash Mary have both joined the NZB Filly of the Year Series points table for the first time, collecting 4 and 2 points respectively.

Only two legs of the series now remain, starting with Saturday’s $90,000 Group Three McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie, followed by the Oaks grand finale two weeks later.