NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series Begins in Canterbury Belle Stakes
20 September 2017
On the same day that the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series gets underway at Hastings, the cream of the South Island’s three-year-old filly crop will get their time to shine as the $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton kicks off the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series.
New Zealand Bloodstock has been the proud sponsor of the Southern Filly of the Year Series since the 2000/2001 season.
The Southern Filly of the Year Series is an important part of the Southern Racing Calendar. It is designed to assist the long-term growth and success of the New Zealand breeding industry by providing opportunities for good fillies to earn valuable black type while racing in New Zealand.
The title of New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year is awarded to the three-year-old filly who succeeds in winning the most points after the completion of the four races in the Series.
The Canterbury Belle Stakes boasts a star-studded honour roll with Group 1 winners Plume (NZ) (Crested Wave), Tartan Tights (NZ) (Tights), Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed) and last year’s winner La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think).
La Diosa’s Canterbury trainers Mandy and Matt Brown have a chance of winning the race again this year with the unbeaten Greenpark Gem (NZ) (Highly Recommended).
The winner of Saturday’s race will receive 7 Southern Filly of the Year Series points, with 4 points for second and 2 for third.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes will be run as Race 9 with a start time of 3:34pm.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey |
| 1 | Kiwi Ida | 8 | Admirably consistent filly Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) has had three wins and five placings from nine career starts, including two stakes placings behind top-class Prom Queen (NZ) (Super Easy). Kiwi Ida placed in a recent trial. | John & Karen Parsons | Chris Johnson |
| 2 | Greenpark Gem | 6 | Trained by Mandy and Matt Brown, who won this race last year with La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think), the Highly Recommended filly Greenpark Gem (NZ) has had one start for an impressive win. | Mandy & Matt Brown | |
| 3 | Hot Fuss | 9 | Hot Fuss (NZ) (Pins) is a half-sister to First Serve (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and was a strong last-start winner. | Kevin & Pam Hughes | Kylie Williams |
| 4 | Ajay Tee | 7 | Although still a maiden, Ajay Tee (NZ) (Foxwedge) has placed in four of her six starts including behind the exciting The Precious One (NZ) (Darci Brahma). | Centaine Spittles | Lee Callaway |
| 5 | Highland Lady | 5 | O'Reilly filly Highland Lady (NZ) finished a good second behind The Precious One in her only previous start. | Terri Rae | Alysha Collett |
| 6 | Madam Swiss | 3 | Madam Swiss (NZ) (Swiss Ace) was a winner at the trials prior to her two raceday starts, in which she finished third and fifth. | Andrew Carston | Terry Moseley |
| 7 | Savvy Coup | 11 | Savabeel filly Savvy Coup (NZ) was a well-beaten fourth behind Prom Queen in her only previous start, but was highly impressive winning a recent Ashburton trial. | Michael & Matthew Pitman | |
| 8 | Starmaker | 1 | On debut in this race, Starmaker (NZ) (Bernardini) won all of her first three trials before chasing home Savvy Coup at Ashburton. | Steven Woodsford | |
| 9 | Dark Poppy | 4 | Another first-starter, Dark Poppy (NZ) (Burgundy) finished third behind Savvy Coup and Starmarket at the Ashburton trials. | Daniel Champion & Kezia Murphy | Jacob Lowry |
| 10 | Lake Chalice | 10 | Well-related filly Lake Chalice (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) has had one start for a ninth placing behind Greenpark Gem. | Shane Kennedy & Anna Furlong | Samantha Collett |
| 11 | Talkaboutme | 2 | Coats Choice filly Talkaboutme (NZ) is on debut here and has had two trials to prepare. | Michael Daly | Jillian Morris |