Pulchritudinous (NZ) Makes Her Mark in Lowland

The step up to 2000 metres worked wonders on Friday for Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote), who made a bold late arrival into the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series with victory in the $150,000 Group Two Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2000m) at Taupo.

The prestigious fillies’ feature was the first appearance at black-type level for the Chad Ormsby-trained filly, who has now had six starts for two wins, a placing and $101,705 in stakes. Ormsby paid $32,500 to buy her from breeder Milan Park in Book 2 of Karaka 2022.

A maiden winner over 1400 metres in the spring, Pulchritudinous hinted that she was looking to go further when she produced an eye-catching late run into third in a 1600-metre race at Tauranga on February 11. She got her wish on Friday and went to an all-new level.

Ridden in midfield by jockey Joe Doyle, Pulchritudinous sprinted through on the inside of the favourite Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor) to lodge her claim at the top of the Taupo straight. Sudbina tried to go with her, but Pulchritudinous was too strong and pulled clear to win by a length and three-quarters. Race Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Sign Of Peace (NZ) (Preferment) dead-heated for second.

“Any win is always good, but a bit of black type for a lovely filly like her just makes it even better,” Ormsby said. “We were expecting and hoping that she’d put in a good performance today. Her work had gone to another level recently, so the signs were pretty good. She went out there today and showed that she’s starting to put things together.

“She enjoyed a lovely run and had the favourite outside her. They were on level terms there for a while in the straight, but then she just found that little bit more with her fresher legs. It was great to see.”

Pulchritudinous has now joined the NZB Filly of the Year table with 8 points, and she may have the opportunity to add to that total in next week’s series finale, the Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham.

“What we do with her now is all going to depend on how she comes through this,” Ormsby said. “She’s nominated for the Oaks, and it could be a great race to target with her, but it just depends on how she comes through this and whether she’s ready to go again on that tight turnaround.”

Placegetters Race Ace and Sign Of Peace also collected their first points of the Series, earning 4 points each.