Kasumi All Class in Canterbury Belle

The John Sargent trained Kasumi was another filly to put in a brilliant performance fresh-up as a three-year-old in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton.

A last start winner of the Listed Champagne Stakes in her two-year-old campaign, Kasumi (NZ) (Shinko King x Mistaurian) overcame the wide barrier of 14 to win the first leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's Southern Filly of the Year Series.

Bred by Cambridge Hunt and ridden by jockey Jamie Bullard, Kasumi came from a long way back in the Listed 1200 metre event, running down the brave Planet Rock to win by three-quarters-of-a-length, and claim the Series lead with seven points.

John Sargent has outlined that Kasumi will remain in the South Island where she will head to the Listed Ray Coupland Stakes over 1400 metres on October 16 before tackling the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.

In a performance that looked like the winning bid, last season's Karaka Million placed NZB graduate Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock x Akris) is another that looks to have lost none of her ability during her break from the track. Trained by Peter and Dawn Williams, she has earned three points in the Series.

The Jason Bridgman trained Classy Fashion (Fusaichi Pegasus) franked her debut win with a good performance in the Listed event. A daughter of the Hong Kong Derby winner Elegant Fashion, she has shown that she has some ability on the track in her two starts and takes home one point and third position in the Series.

With a break in the Southern Filly of the Year Series until next year, the second leg, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1400m) will be held by Otago Racing Club on March 10 2012.

For the Southern Filly of the Year Series race schedule and the current standings click here.