NZB Insurance Stakes Standouts Pull Ahead in NZB Southern Filly Series

The first two placegetters in Saturday’s third leg of the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series have opened up some space between themselves and the other fillies on the series leaderboard.

Bona Sforza (Written Tycoon) swept to victory by a length over Miss Starlight (NZ) (Sweynesse) in the $80,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton. The result lifted Bona Sforza to 11 points in the Southern Filly Series, and Miss Starlight’s series-leading tally now stands at 15.

Bobby Mcgee (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) is third with 7 points, with Cool Aza Rene (Cool Aza Beel), Intention (NZ) (Bivouac) and Perlino (NZ) (Super Seth) rounding out the table with 2 points each.

The two table-toppers have both made repeat appearances throughout the series so far. Miss Starlight won the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in the spring before placing in both the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) and the NZB Insurance Stakes, while Bona Sforza ran second to Miss Starlight in the Canterbury Belle and returned to turn the tables on Saturday.

Riccarton has become very familiar territory for the Awapuni-trained Bona Sforza, who ventured south 12 months ago to make a winning debut in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) during the 2025 edition of that same NZB Insurance Stakes race meeting. She was ridden to that victory by Ace Lawson-Carroll, who spent several months on the sidelines in between times after suffering serious injuries in a race fall during the winter. But the pair reunited on Saturday and triumphed in another black-type feature.

Drawn 13 in a field of 16, Bona Sforza was two and three-wide throughout the race, albeit with cover. Lawson-Carroll got her up and rolling before the home turn, and she was following in Miss Starlight’s slipstream as that runner began to lodge her bid at the top of the straight.

Miss Starlight went to the lead at the 300-metre mark, but Bona Sforza warmed into her work and charged down the middle of the track. She sailed past Miss Starlight in the final 100 metres and went on to win impressively. Miss Starlight held second place by a long neck over the promising series newcomer Perlino.

“It’s good to be back in the saddle and back in the winners’ circle, and doing it in a big race,” Lawson-Carroll said. “She was my first stakes winner last year, to the day, and kicking home another one on her again is great.

“I’m grateful for the opportunity. I’ve only had two rides on her and they have both been stakes wins.”

Bona Sforza is trained by Samantha Finnegan, who shares in the ownership alongside her husband Francis and more than a dozen other owners. Finnegan paid $150,000 to buy her from the Book 1 draft of Highline Thoroughbreds at Karaka 2024. Bona Sforza has now had six starts for two wins, a placing and $138,375 in stakes.

The NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series will conclude with the fourth and final leg, the $80,000 Listed NZB Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on April 25.

Vendor	Highline Thoroughbreds
Purchaser	Mrs S Finnegan (Manawatu-Whanganui)
Breeding	Written By – Thwayya
Sale	Lot 485, Karaka 2024 Book 1, $150,000
Breeder	Mr R Saini
Owner	F & S Finnegan, A Boyce, A & N Robertson, C, E & J Heron, F Freeman, R & T Costello, M O'Brien, A Hawkins, R McQuillan & T Hart