New Year Brings New Challenges in NZB Filly of the Year Series
29 December 2025
With the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) moving five weeks earlier to February this year, summer races over 2000 metres have taken on greater importance in the NZB Filly of the Year Series – starting with the $270,000 Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
The Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes is the seventh leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series and will be the first one run over a distance longer than 1600 metres.
It carries 8 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series for its winner, with 4 for second and 2 for third. The same amounts of points will be available for two subsequent Oaks lead-ups – the $175,000 Group Two Jennian Homes Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Trentham on January 31, and the $270,000 Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 7.
The grand finale of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, the $1m Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m), will this year be run at Ellerslie on February 21 and is worth 12 points for first, 7 for second and 3.5 for third.
The field for the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes has one filly with NZB Filly of the Year Series points to her name already – Origin Of Love (Snitzel), who sits in equal eighth place with 3 points after finishing second in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on December 20. Origin Of Love had previously won the Group Three War Decree Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.
Pulsatilla (NZ) (Redwood) is the other black-type winner in the line-up, having taken out the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Ellerslie two starts ago on November 29.
The NZB Filly of the Year Series points table is headed by equal leaders Well Written (Written Tycoon) and Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) on 20 points each. Tellum (NZ) (Ocean Park) and Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) are next with 8 points each, followed by War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) with 6, Little Black Dress (Snitzel) with 5.5, Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) with 3.5, Origin Of Love and In Haste (Snitzel) with 3, Fleeting Star (Cool Aza Beel) with 2, and Capaci (NZ) (Tivaci) and Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy) with 1.5 points each.
The Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes will be run as Race 7 at Ellerslie on Thursday, with a scheduled start time of 4.05pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pulsatilla | 9 | Pulsatilla (NZ) (Redwood) produced an explosive turn of foot to burst out of the pack and win the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) at Ellerslie on November 29. She returned there on Boxing Day for the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m), where she was making up late ground when finishing seventh and 2.6 lengths from the winner. The extra 400 metres of this race may favour the daughter of Redwood. | ||
| 2 | Origin Of Love | 3 | Te Akau Racing's Origin Of Love (Snitzel) showed her class in the South Island in the spring with a victory in the Group Three War Decree Stakes (1600m) and a fifth behind Well Written (Written Tycoon) in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). She stopped off in Wellington on the journey home and contested the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m), where she was a strong second to War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag). She has earned 3 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. | ||
| 3 | Oratia Beauty | 1 | Oratia Beauty (Too Darn Hot) is a daughter of Oratia (Redoute's Choice), who ran fourth in the Group Three Sunline Vase (2100m) during the 2018-19 edition of the NZB Filly of the Year Series. Oratia Beauty herself won a form-filled maiden race at Taupo in September, where subsequent Group Two Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Magic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) was among the placegetters. Since then, Oratia Beauty has run sixth in the Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), third in a three-year-old race won by Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes), second in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m) and a late-finishing sixth in last week's Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m). | ||
| 4 | Dance The Night | 12 | The beautifully bred Dance The Night (NZ) is by in-form stallion Almanzor out of the Group One winner Stolen Dance (NZ) (Alamosa). Dance The Night made a good impression in two starts at Pukekohe in November and early December, finishing second and first in 1600-metre maiden races, then found the line well for fifth in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day. | ||
| 5 | Hey Dana | 6 | Owner-breeders Cambridge Stud and trainer Lance Noble won this race two seasons ago with About Time (NZ) (American Pharoah), and they are back again in 2026 with another emerging talent. Hey Dana (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) has had only three starts, headed by a smart maiden win at Avondale on November 6. Her only run since then was a close seventh in the Listed O'Learys Fillies' Stakes (1340m) at Wanganui. | ||
| 6 | Sweet Talkin Gal | 14 | There are some strong form references in the five-start career of Sweet Talkin Gal (Anders). She placed behind the highly rated Yamato Satona (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) in October, then ran third to subsequent Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) third placegetter Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel). Her maiden win came by a neck over New Zealand Derby (2400m) prospect Arthur (Camelot), with five lengths back to third. When she took her first step up into stakes company, Sweet Talkin Gal finished a last-start fifth in the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki on November 30. | ||
| 7 | Born To Be Royal | 5 | Even though she is still a maiden after six starts, there has been a lot to like about the career of Born To Be Royal (King's Legacy) so far. The $260,000 Karaka 2024 purchase has placed in four of those six races, including a third in last season's Group Two Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m). She also made up ground for seventh in the Group One Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m). Born To Be Royal has caught the eye with big finishes for placings over 1400 and 1600 metres in her two most recent runs on November 26 and December 19, and her connections believe the step up to 2000 metres will be ideal with top jockey Opie Bosson in the saddle. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | DC Ellis, $260,000 |
| 8 | Fly Zenno | 7 | Fly Zenno (NZ) comes from the first crop by White Robe Lodge stallion Ancient Spirit, who sired his first stakes winner with Bobby Mcgee (NZ) at Wingatui on Boxing Day. Fly Zenno is a half-sister to the multiple black-type winner New York Minute (NZ) (Iffraaj) and was a $30,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2024. Fly Zenno comes into the race on the back of a powerful-finishing second over 1600 metres at Ellerslie on December 11. | Karaka 2024, Book 2 | Kawa Park, $30,000 |
| 9 | Ohope Wins | 11 | Promising filly Ohope Wins (NZ) has the pedigree to be good, being by Ocean Park (NZ) out of a half-sister to five-time Group One winner and New Zealand Horse of the Year Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park). The dam is also a three-quarter-sister to Group One winner Miss Wilson (Stratum). Extra distance looks ideal for Ohope Wins, whose three starts so far have produced late finishes for fifth over 1400 metres, fifth over 1600 metres and second over 1600 metres. | ||
| 10 | Della Ricci | 10 | From the family of multiple Group One winners Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) and Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman), Della Ricci (NZ) (Ocean Park) was a $230,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2024. She has had just two starts so far, finishing sixth over 1400 metres on debut and then charging home for third over 1600 metres. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Bruce Perry Bloodstock, $230,000 |
| 11 | Savina | 4 | The Oaks Stud's homebred filly Savina (NZ) is by Ace High out of the Group Two Championship Stakes (2100m) placegetter Hot Pursuit (NZ) (Spartacus). Savina has placed twice from six starts so far and has caught the eye with her late finishes over shorter distances. | ||
| 12 | Retro | 2 | Retro (NZ) (Proisir) comes from the family of this season's Group One Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m) winner Sepals (Calyx). She is one of the few runners in this field to have already raced over 2000 metres, finishing a close fourth at Matamata on December 19. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Psd, Res $400,000 |
| 13 | Singe | 8 | Singe (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) is a half-sister to Group Two Millie Fox Stakes (1300m) winner and Group One Coolmore Classic (1500m) runner-up Firestorm (NZ) (Satono Aladdin). Singe has had four starts for one placing - a big finish for third over 1600 metres at Pukekohe on October 29. She was a last-start seventh over 1950 metres at Rotorua on December 5. | ||
| 14 | Acer | 13 | Well-related filly Acer (NZ) is by champion sire Savabeel out of the Listed Staphanos Classic (1950m) winner Sweet Treat (NZ) (Ekraar). Acer has recorded three fourth placings from a six-race career to date. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Psd, Res $150,000 |