NZB Trifecta in Soliloquy Stakes

The Roger James trained filly Holy Moly headed a Karaka trifecta in the second leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series on Saturday, with an impressive win in the Listed Manuka Doctor Soliloquy Stakes (1400m).

After jumping well from barrier four, jockey Vinnie Colgan kept Holy Moly (NZ) (Holy Roman Emperor x Clarissa) just off the speed and challenged for the lead on straightening. With a number of contenders coming from across the track, Holy Moly took the lead at the 250 metre mark and held on to take her first stakes victory by three-quarters-of-a-length.

Roger James was very impressed with the effort and is looking to the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas with the filly.

"It was a good win, she handled the soft ground very well which is great to see but she will enjoy a better track and the mile will suit her so we will aim her at the Guineas."

James also trained Holy Moly's dam Clarissa (Zabeel), who won four of her starts, and was thrilled to pick up black-type with her daughter.

"Clarissa was a very good race mare but didn't get the black-type she deserved so it's nice to win this race with Holy Moly. I have always wanted to race something from Clarissa and I was the under-bidder on Holy Moly's half-bother by Pentire at Karaka earlier this year which sold for $480,000."

Bred by Curraghmore Stud and Jack and Mark Maronde, Holy Moly was purchased by Barry Lee Bloodstock from Gordon Cunningham's Curraghmore Stud at the 2010 Karaka Premier Sale for $200,000. She has now won two of her five starts for earnings just shy of $35,000.

The win gives Holy Moly four points in New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, and second place behind Anabandana (Anabaa) who won the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes. The victory also brought up the first Southern Hemisphere stakes win for her sire Holy Roman Emperor (Danehill).

Second in Saturday's race was the Donna & Dean Logan trained Perfect Katch (NZ) (Perfectly Ready x Al Katcha) who was offered by Wentwood Grange at the 2010 Karaka Select Sale. Her placing gives her two points and fourth place behind Testa Secret in the Series.

The Wanganui Guineas winner, the Richard Otto & Mark Brooks trained Whoshe (NZ) (Storm Creek x Lesley Coup) ran home late for third, completing the trifecta for NZB graduates. She takes home one Series point.

Race 3 of the ten-race New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (1600m), will be held at Riccarton on November 12. To view the current points table for the Series, click here.