Island Life (NZ) Stakes Oaks Claim in Sunline Vase

Promising filly Island Life (NZ) (Vadamos) hinted at a strong finish to the NZB Filly of the Year Series with her victory in the $150,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

The Sunline Vase was the 10th leg of the 11-race series and worth 6 points for the winner, 3 for second and 1.5 for third. Island Life has now lifted her total to 8, which moves her into fifth place on the table.

Island Life went into Sunday’s race as the winner of one of her six starts. She had also run a close second to Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) in the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) and third behind Real Class (NZ) (Vadamos) in the Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m).

Trainers Steven Ramsay and Julia Ritchie used the Sunline Vase to determine whether to push on towards the $1m Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on March 22, and Island Life’s impressive performance may have given them their answer.

“To do this for Sir Peter Vela (owner-breeder) on this incredible day just feels unbelievable,” Ritchie said. “She is pretty awkward and it has taken a little while to work her out, but Michael Dee gave her a peach of a ride today. I’m just so proud of her. She ground it out and finished it off so well.

“We will see how she comes through this before we make a decision on Trentham, because she can be a little quirky, but she relaxed today which was great.”

Dee settled Island Life in second as chief rival Eye Candy (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was able to control the race from the front. But Island Life moved forward to challenge the leader at the home turn and soon asserted her superiority down the straight, pulling ahead to win by a length.

“She’s not big, but she’s very tough and tries hard, which is what she has going for her,” Dee said.  “I was pleased when she ended up outside the leader. She relaxed really well and when I gave her a squeeze up, I got pretty confident a long way out.

“The extra distance of the Oaks could be a question mark, but she is very tough and is going in the right direction, so you have to have a go while she is going well.”

Island Life has now had seven starts for two wins, three placings and $208,425 in stakes.

Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) heads the Filly of the Year standings with an unassailable 28 points. Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) and Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) are second and third with 21 and 15 points respectively. The only other filly still ahead of Island Life is the fourth-placed Real Class, who has 10 points but is now based in Australia.

The New Zealand Oaks will be the 11th and final leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series. It is worth 12 points for the winner, with 7 for second and 3.5 for third.