Penultimate Battle for NZB Filly Series Crown

With just two opportunities left for the country's three-year-old fillies to earn valuable points in the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, Masterton Racing Club's meeting at Trentham on Saturday will play host to the penultimate race in Series, the Group 3 Devan Plastics Lowland Stakes (2100m).

In a season that has featured one of the strongest selections of three-year-old fillies in recent years, some of the top contenders for the title are skipping this race leaving Princess Coup's (Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road) lead in the Series unthreatened on Saturday.

Saturday's winner will pick up 6 extra points in the Series, with second and third placegetters receiving 3 and 1.5 respectively. Currently sitting on 21 points, Princess Coup is joined by eleven fillies lining up to claim some of the points on offer.

Trained by Mark Walker, Princess Coup has produced six wins including a stunning run to take home the Group 3 New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham in late January. With regular raceday rider Opie Bosson booked for Derby Day rides at Ellerslie, Chris Johnson takes the ride while stablemate Soelin (Stravinsky x Solano) will be partnered by Troy Harris. Soelin is from the family of New Zealand Oaks winner and 1985 Filly of the Year Solveig (Imposing x Soliloquy).

Leading NZ sire Volksraad (Green Desert) is represented by Castlebar (Volksraad x Search), with current challenger to Princess Coup's lead in the Series, Veloce Bella (Volksraad x Wave to Lottie) heading to Auckland to contest the Group 1 Mercedes Derby at Ellerslie.

Trained by John Wheeler, Castlebar produced a convincing win in the 1800 metre Oaks Trial at New Plymouth recently, finishing two lengths ahead of Howgoodwasthat (Howbaddouwantit x Great Status) who also lines up on Saturday.

Bred by Fairdale Stud, Howgoodwasthat is a half-sister to Cedar Manor (Oregon)�and is by their resident sire Howbaddouwantit (Rahy). The least experienced in the field with just four starts to her credit, she will be joined by fellow Graeme Rogerson and Stephen Autridge trained, Shesakeeper (Keeper x Ionian).

Riccarton-based trainer Kevin Hughes has made the big trip North off the back of an impressive last start win at Timaru with Baci (Bertolini x Calm Conqueror). Starting from barrier two, Buddy Lammas is booked to take the ride.

Looking to boost their current Filly of the Year Series points are Taatyana (Faltaat x Clear Advantage) who sits in ninth spot and Sitting on a Hill (City on a Hill x Ivy Darling) currently in twelfth.

The remaining horses in the field are Like Me Wild (Cape Cross x Hayley's Abby), Black Mamba (Black Minnaloushe x Sneetch), Black Grace (Postponed x Diamond Fire) and Molly O'Reilly (O'Reilly x Chats).

With the exception of Shesakeeper the entire field has current nominations for the final race in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, the Group 1 New World New Zealand Oaks (2400m). The $300,000 purse is to be contested at Trentham on Saturday 17 March.

Click here for more information on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series or contact Haylie Martin: haylie@nzb.co.nz