New Zealand’s Finest Fillies Set for 1000 Guineas Clash

Throughout the half a century since it was established in 1973, the $500,000 Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) has showcased the standout three-year-old filly talent of every New Zealand season and has become a pivotal stop on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

The 2023 edition of the Barneswood Farm-sponsored classic will be run at Riccarton this Saturday. It is the third leg of this season’s New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, and as one of only two Group One races on the itinerary, it is worth a crucial 12 points to the winner, 7 for second and 3.5 for third.

The list of the 50 previous winners of the prestigious race speaks volumes for its significance on the New Zealand racing calendar. The honour roll includes Our Flight (NZ) (Imperial Guard), Canterbury Belle (NZ) (Beaufort Sea), Cure (NZ) (Sir Tristram), Candide (NZ) (Sound Reason), Nimue (NZ) (Star Way), Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay), Tartan Tights (NZ) (Tights), Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon), The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly), Taatletail (NZ) (Faltaat), Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross), Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), Katie Lee (Pins), King’s Rose (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) and last year’s sensational winner Legarto (NZ) (Proisir).

This year’s edition of the 1000 Guineas has attracted a capacity field of 18 enormously promising fillies, many who already have black-type credentials

Impendabelle (Impending) has arrived in Christchurch as a dual Group Two winner already, having captured the Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) as a two-year-old as well as last month’s crucial Guineas lead-up, the Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe.

Star Of Justice (Justify) is a last-start winner of the Group Three Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) at Ashburton, which was the second win of only a three-start career.

Viva Vienna (NZ) (All Too Hard), Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver) have all won at Listed level, and Viva Vienna and Chantilly Lace have also been Group Three-placed this spring.

Tulsi (The Autumn Sun) is a multiple black-type placegetter including in last season’s Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m). Mary Shan (NZ) (Almanzor) finished second in the Soliloquy Stakes at Group Two level, while the exciting Luberon (NZ) (Embellish) and talented local Warning Signal (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) have both been placed in Listed company.

Heading into the 2023 edition of the 1000 Guineas, Impendabelle heads the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series standings with 8 points. Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) winner Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) is in second place with 6.

Mary Shan and Chantilly Lace sit in third and fourth spot with 4 and 3 points respectively, while Tulsi and Oneira (NZ) (Contributer) complete the points table with 2 and 1.5 points.

The Barneswood Farm 51st New Zealand 1000 Guineas will be run as Race 7 at Riccarton on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 2.58pm.