NZB Southern Filly Series Enters Final Stretch
10 April 2025
The 2024-25 NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series contenders have everything to play for over the next couple of weeks, beginning with Saturday’s $80,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.
The first two races were won by Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) and Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns), who have 7 points each but will not feature in either the NZB Airfreight Stakes or the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) on April 26. Those final two races of the series are each worth 7 points for first, 4 for second and 2 for third, which means the Southern Filly title is within anyone’s reach.
Among the most prominent title contenders in Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Stakes field are Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) and Lil Zena (NZ) (U S Navy), who earned 4 points each with second placings in the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) respectively.
They will be joined in Saturday’s line-up by Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who has 2 points after finishing third in the NZB Insurance Stakes. Loose Sally has since won the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m).
Other leading chances among Saturday’s big field include Connello (NZ) (Time Test), who finished second to the NZB Filly of the Year Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) in both the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
The NZB Airfreight Stakes will be run as Race 8 at Riccarton on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 3.52pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dream Of The Moon | 3 | Te Akau Racing's Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) has had 10 starts for two wins, four placings and $119,175 in stakes. She has been stakes-placed in the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m), Group Three Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m) and Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m). Her runner-up finish in the Canterbury Belle Stakes earned her 4 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series. | ||
| 2 | Connello | 22 | Bought for just $10,000 from the 2022 National Weanling Sale, Connello (NZ) (Time Test) has earned $167,415 from her 16-start career. She performed with credit during the NZB Filly of the Year Series, including second placings behind Filly of the Year Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). She also finished fifth in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and a last-start eighth in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m). | 2022 National Weanling Sale | DK Woodhouse, $10,000 |
| 3 | Loose Sally | 7 | Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) has recorded two wins and a third from her four starts so far. She earned 2 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series with a third placing in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day, then returned there on March 1 for an impressive win in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m). | ||
| 4 | Kellanzor | 13 | The four-start career of Kellanzor (NZ) (Almanzor) has produced two wins and a second, along with a fifth in the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m). Kellanzor was a last-start winner over NZB Airfreight Stakes rival Lilly (War Decree) at Riccarton on March 22. | ||
| 5 | Lilly | 8 | The locally trained Lilly (NZ) (War Decree) is a two-race winner, including a two-length victory over 1200 metres at Riccarton in February. Since then she has finished third in the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m), fourth in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m) and a last-start second behind Kellanzor (NZ) (Almanzor) at Riccarton. | ||
| 6 | Lil Zena | 4 | Lil Zena (NZ) (U S Navy) showed bright promise as a two-year-old with a third in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and fifth in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m), and she returned this season to run fourth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and second in the NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m). That NZB Insurance Stakes placing earned her 4 points in the NZB Southern Filly Series, which puts her in equal third place on the table. | ||
| 7 | Donna Chiara | 24 | The second runner in the NZB Airfreight Stakes field for premiership-leading trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, Donna Chiara (NZ) (Belardo) has had nine starts for a win and four placings. She has also finished seventh in the Group Two Wakefield Challenge Stakes (1100m) and eighth in the Group Three Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m). | Karaka 2023, Book 1 | Bruce Perry Bloodstock, $90,000 |
| 8 | Afire | 19 | White Robe Lodge homebred Afire (NZ) (Ghibellines) is a full-sister to the Group One Turnbull Stakes (2000m) winner Smokin' Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines). Afire has had just three starts so far. She ran second on debut in early February and fourth on March 16, then took a big step forward with a two-length maiden win over 1400 metres at Wingatui on March 28. | ||
| 9 | Little But Fierce | 18 | Little But Fierce (NZ) (Exceedance) has quickly exceeded her $15,000 purchase price in the 2022 Weanling Sale, earning $19,880 from her seven starts so far. She was an impressive last-start winner at Ashburton over 1600 metres, which is the same distance as this race. | 2022 National Weanling Sale | MJ & TT Stratford, $15,000 |
| 10 | Mille Grazie | 20 | Cambridge visitor Mille Grazie (NZ) (Super Seth) is one of this field's least experienced runners. She has had only two starts, winning on debut at Taupo on February 26 and then running third at Matamata behind black-type performer Romilly (So You Think). | ||
| 11 | Sarissa | 1 | Inglewood Stud homebred Sarissa (NZ) (War Decree) is a half-sister to Australian black-type performers Episodic (NZ) (Tavistock) and Bermadez (NZ) (Tavistock). Sarissa was unplaced on debut at Riccarton in February, but improved sharply for a second-up maiden success at Ashburton on April 3. | ||
| 12 | Selkirk Lass | 17 | Selkirk Lass (NZ) (Ghibellines) kicked off her career with a fifth at Riccarton in February, then cleared maiden grade with a determined front-running performance at Ashburton on March 13 in her only other start. | ||
| 13 | Tembo | 12 | Tembo (NZ) (Rageese) was bought for $26,000 from the 2022 National Weanling Sale. She was a maiden winner at Ashburton in February, then finished close up in sixth at Riccarton in her most recent appearance on March 22. | 2022 National Weanling Sale | CK Hunter, $26,000 |
| 14 | The Boss Lady | 6 | Vadamos filly The Boss Lady (NZ) has recorded a win, a second and a third from her five-start career. Her win came over the same course and 1600-metre distance as the NZB Airfreight Stakes, winning a maiden mile at Riccarton on March 5. | ||
| 15 | Lady Diva | 23 | Riverton filly Lady Diva (NZ) (Eminent) has had 10 starts for a win, a second and two thirds. She took on some of the best of her generation last start and finished ninth in the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 22. | ||
| 16 | Leona | 9 | Llanhennock Trust homebred Leona (NZ) (Darci Brahma) won on debut at Ascot Park in January. Her three starts since then have produced a fourth at Gore and unplaced finishes in the Listed Southland Guineas (1400m) and over 1400 metres at Riccarton last start. | ||
| 17 | Turnontheglam | 14 | Turnontheglam (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) has had three starts, including an impressive maiden win over 1200 metres at Riccarton in February. She was unplaced at Wingatui in her only race since then. | ||
| 18 | Star Shadow | 15 | Star Shadow (NZ) (Reliable Man) completes the Walker/Bergerson contingent in the NZB Airfreight Stakes field. She was a $35,000 purchase by David Ellis and Fortuna Racing from Book 2 of Karaka 2023. Star Shadow was a debut winner as an autumn two-year-old last season, and her seven starts since then have produced a second placing at Riccarton along with fifths in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1400m) and Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m). | Karaka 2023, Book 2 | DC Ellis/Fortuna Racing, $35,000 |
| 19 | Oaksdeel | 21 | Dundeel filly Oaksdeel is still a maiden but has recorded two second placings in her six-start career. She has been freshened since a close last-start fourth over 2000 metres back in February. | ||
| 20 | Words Of Mine | 2 | Words Of Mine (NZ) (Staphanos) has recorded a second, a third, a fourth and three fifths from her seven starts so far. Her most recent race was her best, finishing second and only half a length from the winner in a 1400-metre race at Ashburton on April 3. | ||
| 21 | Charlotte Jane | 11 | Charlotte Jane (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) has had two starts, both at Ashburton. She was a close fourth over 1200 metres on March 13, then crossed the line only two lengths from the winner when fifth over 1400 metres on April 3. | ||
| 22 | Iron Maiden | 10 | The well-related Iron Maiden (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) is a half-sister to three stakes winners - Boots 'N' All (NZ) (Perfectly Ready), Air Max (NZ) (Nadeem) and Toms (NZ) (Towkay). Iron Maiden has had four starts for a third, two fifths and a 10th. | ||
| 23 | Liquid Blue | 16 | Liquid Blue (NZ) (Ocean Park) has recorded one second placing from a seven-race career to date. | Karaka 2023, Book 2 | Psd, Res $20,000 |
| 24 | Blue Goddess | 5 | Blue Goddess (Dundeel) has yet to record a placing from seven appearances so far. |