Lollapalooza (NZ) Launches NZB Filly of the Year Series in Style

Its position as the very first leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series means the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) often unveils a sparkling new talent, and that looks like it was the case again at Ellerslie on Saturday. 

The $150,000 race was won in spectacular come-from-behind style by the $30,000 Karaka 2024 Book 2 graduate Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca), who went into the race as a maiden but is now the favourite for the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in November.

The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained Lollapalooza had shown promise in her three starts before Saturday’s black-type breakthrough. She ran third on debut back in February, not far behind the subsequent Listed winner Lucy In The Sky (NZ) (Hello Youmzain), then struck traffic trouble when eighth in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m). In her first race as a three-year-old, she charged home from the back for an eye-catching second over 1100 metres at Taupo. But what she did on Saturday was on a whole new level.

Lollapalooza drew the outside gate and was given a patient ride by Vinnie Colgan, who took her out the back and settled in last for most of the journey.

Colgan initially had trouble finding room in the home straight, but once he found a way through, Lollapalooza produced an explosive turn of foot. She blasted past her nine rivals in the last 200 metres, catching her Taupo conqueror In Haste (Snitzel) in the final few strides and winning by three-quarters of a length.

“I opted to ride her quietly from the wide barrier,” Colgan said. “I stayed towards the inside and just hoped for a bit of luck.

“She was explosive in the straight. I think getting up over more distance will suit her.”

Lollapalooza was bred by Don and Dame Wendy Pye and is out of the Showcasing mare Carnival (NZ), who won the Group Three Stewards’ Stakes. Lollapalooza was offered by Haunui Farm in Book 2 of Karaka 2024.

“We love training good three-year-old fillies, and it was an honour to have three of them in the Gold Trail this year and to win it with Lollapalooza,” Richardson said. “Don and Wendy Pye bred her, and when I went and saw her at Haunui as a yearling, she was a standout from the start. Vinnie gave her a great ride today and we’re thrilled to get the result.”

The Pyes have retained a share of the ownership of Lollapalooza alongside the Social Racing Premier Dynamic Duo Syndicate, which is managed by Brent Cooper.

“Good fillies win the Gold Trail Stakes, and I think we saw another good filly win it today,” Cooper said. “She may have been a maiden coming into it, but her performance for second last start was outstanding and I was confident.

“There are two syndicates that race this filly. Graham Richardson has a syndicate that includes her breeders, Don and Wendy Pye. It’s great to have them in the ownership alongside our Social Racing syndicate.

“There are a lot of first-time owners in the Social Racing syndicate, which also races last month’s Group Three performer Yokozuna (Fierce Impact), so they’re feeling lucky so far.”

From four career starts, Lollapalooza has recorded a win, a second and a third and has returned $105,500 – three and a half times her purchase price.

Lollapalooza has gone straight to the top of the NZB Filly of the Year Series table with 6 points. In Haste sits in second place with 3 points, while Saturday’s third placegetter Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy) has 1.5 points.

Vendor	Haunui Farm
Purchaser	Richardson Racing Stables/Social Racing (Waikato)
Breeding	El Roca – Carnival
Sale	Lot 1101, Karaka 2024 Book 2, $30,000
Breeder	Don Pye & Dame Wendy Pye
Owner	Social Racing Premier Dynamic Duo Syndicate (Mgr: Brent Cooper) & Richardson Racing Carnival Syndicate