More Gold on Offer in Fillies Series

The seventh leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series is to be contested this weekend with the running of the Group 3 $70,000 Tiger Prawn Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

Current Series leader Costa Viva.

A field of 16 fillies has been attracted for the Group 3 feature, with 6 Series points to be earned by the winner, the runner-up collecting 3 points, and third place gaining 1.5 points towards the Filly of the Year Series.

Current Series leader Viva Costa (Encosta de Lago) is at the top of the book for trainer Jason Bridgman. The Encosta de Lago filly will be looking to build on the 19 points she has already earned, thanks largely to her Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas win. She was second at her last start in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic, only her second defeat in her five-start career. She will be ridden by Te Akau’s stable rider Matthew Cameron from barrier 14.

Carrying a strong form line into the race is Brah Spring (NZ) (Darci Brahma) for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman. The filly by Darci Brahma won her first two starts this campaign before running second in her next two starts. She was beaten at her last start by the talented Glorious Lad at Ellerslie and will be ridden by Leith Innes from barrier 4 on Saturday.

The international colours of Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum will be carried by Moozoon (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) for trainer Stephen McKee in Saturday’s fillies feature. The winner of two races ran away to a three length victory last start at Counties for jockey Mark Sweeney who will once again partner the daughter of Perfectly Ready.

Group 3 Eulogy Stakes winner Whistling Dixie (NZ) (Pins) received 6 points in the Series for her win in that race last month and will be looking to build on her tally for successful Australian Stud Segenhoe. Trained by Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, the filly by Pins has drawn gate 6 for leading rider Michael Coleman.

A close second to Whistling Dixie in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes was Miss Selby (NZ) (O’Reilly) who was making up good ground in the race. The daughter of O’Reilly has not been seen since that race and has never finished out of the first three in her career. The well-bred filly is out of Group 2 Waikato Cup winner Singing Star and will be ridden by Jonathan Riddell for trainer John Bary.

Matamata visitor Hot Rod (NZ) (Pentire) was a winner two starts ago against good company on Boxing Day at Ellerslie before finishing mid-field in the Group 2 Royal Stakes on New Year’s Day. The Paul and Kris Shailer trained filly has drawn barrier 11 for Kelly Myers.

The John Wheeler bred, owned and trained filly Diamantine (NZ) (Eight Wonder) brings consistent form into the race having won and run second twice in her last three starts. Last week’s Group 1 winning rider Mark du Plessis takes the ride and will start from barrier 2.

Waikato Stud has a big week ahead of them at the National Yearling Sales Series at Karaka and will be looking for racetrack success with their runner Far Fetched (NZ) (Pins) on Saturday. Bred and owned by Garry Chittick, the filly by Pins was a winner on debut and has been placed at her two starts since. Johnathan Parkes will ride the filly for trainer John Bary.

Jeff McVean and Emma-Lee Browne bring down Dresden Park (NZ) (Thorn Park) from their Cambridge base for Saturday’s event. The daughter of Thorn Park was a winner at Ellerslie in late November and will be ridden by leading apprentice Rory Hutchings.

Tough last start winner Triple Billing (Lion Heart) had to break maidens the hard way, sitting three-wide without cover before dashing away to win over 1600m. Part-owned by Wellfield Lodge, another Stud with a strong presence at Karaka next week, the filly by Lion Heart has drawn an inside gate of 3 for rider Robert Hannam and trainer Mike Breslin.

Leading trainer Lisa Latta has Red Melody (NZ) (Stravinsky) engaged in Saturday’s Group 3 feature, a winner back in November from six starts this season. The daughter of Stravinsky will have the services of Darryl Bradley from barrier 9.

John Wheeler has a two-pronged attack on the race with Fergalicious (NZ) (Fully Fledged) also bred and owned by the master trainer. The Fully Fledged filly was a winner late in December and was desperately unlucky last start when blocked for a run for much of the straight. Hayden Tinsley will ride the filly from barrier 10.

Zanotti (NZ) (Strategic Image) enters the race with 1 point in the Filly of the Year Series having run third in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes. The Stephen Marsh trained filly was a winner two starts ago at Matamata and will be ridden by Danielle Johnson from a tough barrier of 15.

Maiden runner Slice of Class (NZ) (Guillotine) has been placed in all three of her raceday appearances for trainer Karen Zimmerman including being beaten by a nose at her last start. The Guillotine filly has drawn barrier 12 for Rosie Myers.

Fellow maiden galloper Cutting Shapes (NZ) (Guillotine) will be looking to give her sire Guillotine and owners Windsor Park Stud, where the stallion stands, a boost before the Karaka Yearling Sales next week with a win on Saturday. Trainer Janelle Millar has engaged Trudy Thornton to ride from barrier 1.

Rounding off the field is Cyclone Tracy (NZ) (St Reims) for Jeff Lynds, who enters the race without running a place at her first five starts.

The Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes is run on a Premier Day of racing at Trentham that will also feature the Group 1 Thorndon Mile. The full fields for the meeting can be viewed here.

This is the last race in the Filly of the Year Series run over 1600m with the remaining races held over middle and staying distances culminating in the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks on 15 March, also run at Trentham.

2013/2014 Filly of the Year Leaderboard: