King's Rose Shoots for NZB Filly of the Year Title

Racing at Waikato on Saturday features a number of headline horses making their anticipated return to the track, with Filly of the Year series leader King's Rose amongst them as she targets the $100,000 Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m).

With seven races in the ten-race Series already completed, there is little time in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series for runners to catch the breakaway leader King's Rose (Redoute's Choice x Nureyev's Girl).

Already the winner of three legs in the Series, including the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas, she has earned 26 points so far, 14.5 points clear of her nearest rival Smoulder who is sitting on 11.5 points.

King's Rose will be carrying the number one saddle cloth on Saturday and a win in the Group 2 fillies feature would see her take an unassailable lead in the 2010/2011 NZB Filly of the Year Series.

The winner of her last start, the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes over 2000 metres, the filly is already proven at the distance and looks tough to beat.

Should King's Rose win on Saturday, it will be Te Akau's fourth NZB Filly of the Year title in the last six seasons, and the first for trainer Jason Bridgeman. A filly of immense value, her half-brother, the colt by Red Ransom (Lot 466), was bought for a sale topping $875,000 by leading New Zealand buyer David Ellis, at the Karaka Premier Sale this year.

Waikato Stud's filly Dating (O'Reilly x Mandate) was a brilliant winner of the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham at her last start. Her co-trainer Graeme Rogerson has a high opinion of the horse and says she is right up there with the best fillies in the country. The way she travelled last start in transit and then raced clear in the straight suggests that she will be up to the task. And although she is having her first start over ground, her breeding indicates that she should be right up to the trip.

The Lance Noble trained Annie Higgins (O'Reilly x Diva Belle) has been racing well over the Series, running second to King's Rose in the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes and third in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic. A picture of consistency, the filly has never run worse than fourth but has yet to land a black-type win. She seems to step up in class at every start and has risen to the occasion thus far and will be one for the punters black book on Saturday.

Blinding (Black Minnaloushe x Dazzling Walk) and Lady Kipling (Savabeel x Akela) have both showed that they have serious potential running second and third in the Group 1 Levin Classic. They have both been unplaced in their last two starts and connections will be keen to see them make amends as they head for the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks.

John Sargent has two runners in Saturday's race with Chennai (Towkay x Kanpur) and Suaza (Thorn Park x Queen Caelia). Both fillies have been racing well and come into the race with good form under their belts in recent starts while facing a step up in class here.

Roger James also has two runners in the race with Insurgent (Ishiguru x Stella Attrice) who ran a tidy sixth in the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes after being the widest runner on the turn, and Shibboleth (Cape Cross x Give It A Whirl), who will have her first start in stakes company after winning her last outing.

Chaparral Lass (High Chaparral x Axislass) and Midnight Oil (Keeper x Gilded Light) will be ones to watch in the race. Lady Chaparral has only had three starts on the track and her win two starts ago was very impressive. She got caught back at her last start but put in another big finish to take fourth.

The big strong filly Midnight Oil blew away her opposition at Trentham at her last start over 2100 metres, winning by over six lengths. She was caught back last in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic and ran out of the placings, but her last start over 2100 metres shows the distance should be of little concern.

The Robert Priscott & Clayton Chipperfield trained Hot Pursuit (Spartacus x Dominant) ran a strong second to Hidden Asset in the Group 2 Championship Stakes over 2100 metres two starts back. She then ran out of the placings in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes, having to come back in distance to a mile. She is another that should have no trouble running out the 2000 metres.

Shamabelle (Shamardal x Carnegie Belle) didn't get all favours yet ran a good fourth in the Group 2 Championship Stakes at her last start. She has a big finish and hits the line strongly in her races and is another that will be heading for the Oaks.

Born To Rock (Fastnet Rock x Call Me Pretty) will have another start at stakes level after she was unplaced in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic. She has won two of her six starts and is another who hits the line well in her races.

Last Picasso (Choisir x Elusive Quarry) and Designacat (One Cool Cat x Scenic Design) are also in Saturday's field and will be looking to notch up strong performances at stakes level.

The winner of the $100,000 Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) will receive eight points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, with second taking four points and third two points. The fillies feature is scheduled for 2.45pm at Te Rapa.

To view the results for the National Yearling Sales Series online, please visit www.nzb.co.nz.