Lafleur Too Strong In Sir Tristram Fillies Classic

Competition for the prestigious title of 2002-03 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of The Year is hotting up.

The running of Saturday's Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) saw two top fillies Lafleur (Zabeel x Desert Lily) & Bramble Rose (Shinko King x Images) flying to the finish line after being held up briefly in the straight. Lafleur finally got clear and came out victorious finishing 1� lengths clear of Bramble Rose, with newcomer to the Series Showgirl (Volksraad x Show Belle) finishing smartly for third.

While Lafleur, trained by Matamata's Jim Gibbs, is scooting up the Filly of the Year points table with 16 points, Bramble Rose's second placing on Saturday has given her enough to pass Southerner The Jewel (O'Reilly x The Grin) to top the table with 20 points, 1 point ahead of The Jewel, with Lafleur in third position.

The final and deciding race in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series is the Group 2 Fayette Park Championship Stakes (2100m) at the Auckland Racing Club on Saturday 1 March.

With Bramble Rose's trainer Mark Todd indicating that the filly will now be kept for the AJC Oaks in Sydney, Lafleur could be given a prime opportunity to take out the title.

The current points table for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year now stands as follows

Bramble Rose 20
The Jewel 19
Lafleur 16
Volksini 10.5
Natalie Wood 8
Chestpeak 7
Danceinthesun 6
Gypsy Babe 6
Molly Dot Com 6
Milzeel 4
Penny Gem 4
Lady Annaliese 3.5
Bailey's On Ice 3
Country Class 3
Original Sin 2
Showgirl 2
Charmaine 1.5
Midnight Call 1.5
Savuka 1.5
Florida 1

The 2002-2003 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series can be followed by viewing www.nzb.co.nz where the points table for each series is regularly updated after each race. For further information please contact Taryn Bax at New Zealand Bloodstock on (09) 298 0055 or Email taryn@nzb.co.nz .