O’Reilly Serves Up Southern Filly Series Leader

O’Reilly filly Emerald Queen (NZ) made light work of her opposition for trainers Shane Kennedy & Anna Furlong on Saturday, winning the $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m), the first leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year Series.

Emerald Queen (O’Reilly x Scarlet Queen) came into Saturday’s race after just one start, finishing fifth at Riccarton over 1200 metres on 14 September. Her win on Saturday has given her 7 points and the early lead in the four-race South Island Series for three-year-old fillies.

Ridden by Alysha Collett, Emerald Queen settled a little worse than mid-field but kicked clear in the straight, winning by over three lengths.

Emerald Queen was bred and is owned by Kevin Hickman who has had a highly successful last 12 months with the star O’Reilly filly Silent Achiever. She claimed the title of New Zealand’s Champion 3YO after a top season which saw her beat the boys in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby.  

The Oaks Stud looks to have another smart filly in their racing team with Outshine (Darci Brahma x Upstaged) taking second place and 3 Series points. The Oaks had a top 2011/12 season winning the New Zealand Owner of the Year Award.

Outshine, on race debut for trainer Jason Bridgman, was one of two Darci Brahma fillies to place at stakes level on Saturday with Waterford running third in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes.

Iffraaj filly Glade (Eden) came into the race off the back of a very impressive win in Otago and held on to third place after looking prominent in the straight, earning 1 Series point for trainer Michael Pitman.

Emerald Queen was offered at the 2011 Karaka Select Sale by Valachi Downs and is the 58th stakes winner for O’Reilly who stands at Waikato Stud. O’Reilly’s unbeaten son, the Karaka graduate Sacred Falls, won the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes last weekend and O’Reilly has also had Said Com and Shamexpress place in stakes races this season.

The next leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year Series, the $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1400m), will be held at the Otago Racing Club on 9 March.

To view the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series schedule and points table, click here.