NZB Southern Filly Series Resumes at Wingatui
2 March 2023
The New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series is set to return from its summer hiatus, roaring back to life in Saturday’s $65,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.
This weekend’s race is the second leg of a four-race series, which began in the spring with the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m). That race was won by One Kiss (NZ) (Tivaci), who heads the Southern Filly standings with 6 points, while placegetters Perfectly Suited (NZ) (Savile Row) and Kikimora (NZ) (Shamexpress) earned 4 points and 2 points respectively.
None of those three fillies are in the field this weekend, so the points table is set for a shake-up with the running of Saturday’s race. Just like the Canterbury Belle, the NZB Insurance Stakes is worth 6 points to the winner, with 4 points for second and 2 points for third.
Saturday’s line-up features the proven stakes performers Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca), Goldie’s Chance (NZ) (Iffraaj), Miss Dunsford (Dissident) and Abit Sassy (NZ) (Ghibellines), while every other filly in the field has won at least one race.
The NZB Insurance Stakes will be run as Race 7 at Wingatui on Saturday, with a start time of 3.52pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Romancing The Moon | 3 | Te Akau Racing's Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) brings impressive form from the north into this Southern Filly feature. She has won twice in her nine-start career, and she held her own against the top-class Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) with a second in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and a fourth in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). She has placed in another two stakes races, including the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) at this track on February 4. | Karaka 2021, Book 1 | DC Ellis, $50,000 |
| 2 | Goldie's Chance | 12 | Goldie's Chance (NZ) (Iffraaj) more than repaid her $21,000 price tag as a weanling with a valuable black-type win in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) on January 21. She has had six starts overall for two wins and two placings, and she was a last-start seventh in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m). | 2020 National Weanling Sale | KR Davidson, $21,000 |
| 3 | Miss Dunsford | 8 | One of the most intriguing runners in this line-up is Miss Dunsford (Dissident), who began her career in Australia with nine starts for a win and two placings, including a third in the Group Three South Australian Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m). Since arriving in this country, Miss Dunsford has finished fifth at Matamata, third at Riccarton, then dead-heated for first at Riccarton on February 11. | ||
| 4 | Inflamed | 10 | Inflamed (NZ) (Ghibellines) has been a two-time winner from five starts to date, including over this course and distance on January 14. Since then, she has run sixth in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) and eighth in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m). | ||
| 5 | Third Decree | 5 | After finishing only eighth on debut in November, Third Decree (NZ) (War Decree) has rapidly emerged as one of the South Island's more talented three-year-old fillies. She has won both of her starts since that debut, winning by a head at Kumara before a more emphatic last-start victory at Riccarton on January 28. | ||
| 6 | Express Coup | 2 | Consistent performer Express Coup (NZ) (Shamexpress) has never finished further back than fourth in her six-race career. Along with a maiden win at Kurow on December 30, she has picked up two seconds, a third and two fourths. | ||
| 7 | Jaffa | 15 | Bought for $15,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2021, Jaffa (NZ) (Proisir) has shown plenty of promise with two wins to date - one of them at the expense of subsequent stakes winner Goldie's Chance (NZ) (Iffraaj). Jaffa's own attempts at stakes level have produced a 16th in the Group Two Wellington Guineas (1400m), an unlucky eighth in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m), and a fifth in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m). | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | Red Oak Stud, $15,000 |
| 8 | Abit Sassy | 13 | Abit Sassy (NZ) (Ghibellines) was a disappointing 12th in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) last start, but her prior form had no shortage of merit. Her first four starts produced a win and a close third in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m). | ||
| 9 | La Bella Nera | 6 | Last on debut but with plenty of excuses, promising filly La Bella Nera (NZ) (Sweynesse) has made amends in her two subsequent raceday appearances. She won impressively at Trentham on January 21, then was beaten by a head at Tauherenikau on Waitangi Day. This is her first attempt at 1400 metres. | ||
| 10 | Betty Spaghetti | 4 | Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star) has yet to run a bad race in her career. Second on debut at the end of October, she came out and won during the New Zealand Cup Carnival in November, then finished third at Ashburton. That strong form prompted a step up to stakes class, where she was far from disgraced with a last-start fourth in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m). | Karaka 2021, Book 1 | Robert Dennis Racing, $20,000 |
| 11 | Secretxpress | 11 | An unplaced finish after a tough wide run at Riccarton last start is not an accurate guide to the credentials of Secretxpress (NZ) (Shamexpress). Her previous three starts produced a third at Wingatui, a second at Riccarton and a smart maiden win at Ashburton. | Karaka 2021, Book 1 | JS Angland, $70,000 |
| 12 | The Grey Goose | 14 | The Grey Goose (NZ) (Reliable Man) began her career on the perfect note, winning by more than two lengths at Riverton on New Year's Day. Both of her races since then have been in stakes company, finishing seventh in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m) and 10th in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m). | ||
| 13 | Madame Giselle | 7 | Time Test filly Madame Giselle (NZ) was an $80,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2021. She showed promise in the spring, picking up a third and a fourth along with a solid eighth in the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m), but a last-start win over this distance at Riccarton suggests she may have turned a corner in the New Year. | Karaka 2021, Book 2 | Champagne Racing Stables, $80,000 |
| 14 | Stolen Decree | 9 | Stolen Decree (NZ) (War Decree) won a 1400-metre maiden by two and a quarter lengths at Riccarton on January 28, then ran on gamely for a last-start fourth over 1600 metres at the same venue. | ||
| 15 | Kindred Spirit | 1 | Kindred Spirit (NZ) (El Doute) won at Ashburton in late December and has had little luck since, not having much room when fifth in the Listed Gore Guineas (1335m). She finished at the tail of the field in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) in her most recent start. |