NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes a Breeze for Windborne
21 September 2015
Breezing to an emphatic victory on Saturday was Windborne (NZ) (Darci Brahma), winning the $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park.
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Windborne (NZ) wins the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes - the first leg of the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series. |
The win also puts Windborne at the top of the leaderboard in the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series with the Canterbury Belle Stakes being the first leg of the Series.
Windborne first tasted success as a juvenile, winning her first two starts including the Listed Murdoch Newell Stakes. The daughter of Darci Brahma had four starts in total as a two-year-old and competed in the Karaka Million. Saturday’s race was her first start since the Karaka Million for trainers Stephen Autridge and Jamie Richards.
“We are very happy with the result,” commented Autridge. “She is a filly who has always shown ability. She had a minor problem after the Karaka Million but it is good to have her back.
“Our aim with her is to get to the 1000 Guineas. She will have a start before then, most likely in the (Listed) Ray Coupland Stakes at Ashburton.
“We will try to get her up to a mile and if we are successful, following the rest of the Series may be an option.”
Windborne is a full-sister to Darci’s Dream, the winner of the same race last year and also trained by Te Akau Racing. Following her win the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes, Darci’s Dream then finished second in the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas, taking the same path as intended for Windborne.
Jockey Rosie Myers took her first ride aboard Windborne on Saturday, jumping her from the inside barrier. Windborne followed the rail one position behind race-favourite Dezzie’s Dream (NZ) (Coats Choice) who led the field.
Myers squeezed Windborne along the inside of Dezzie’s Dream on straightening for home, hitting the front 300m out and powering home for a three-length-victory over Dezzie’s Dream and Princess Davone (NZ) (Iffraaj) in third.
Owned by Fortuna Windborne Syndicate, managed by John Galvin, the three-year-old filly has earned $80,125 in prizemoney.
Galvin, acting as Fortuna Syndications, purchased Windborne at NZB’s 2014 Karaka Select Sale for $100,000 from Goodwood Stud.
Bred by David Ellis and Karyn Fenton-Ellis, the daughter of Darci Brahma is a full sister to stakes-winner Darci’s Dream and is out of Van Nistelrooy mare Sweet Dreams Baby.
Winning the first leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year Series has earned Windborne 7 points, Dezzie’s Dream received 3 points for second place and Princess Davone claims 1 point for third.
The second leg of the Filly Series is scheduled to be held on 5 March 2016 at Otago Racing Club with the running of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes over 1400m.
To view the current leaderboard for NZB’s Southern Filly of the Year Series, click here.