Quality Fillies Contest the G2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic

The Group 2 $100,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day has attracted a field of 12 talented fillies and looms as a wide open affair as it’s comprised of seven last start winners.

The Eight Carat Classic is the fourth leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series. The winner will earn 8 points towards the 10-race NZB Filly of the Year Series, second place will earn 4 points and third place will receive 2 points. To view the leaderboard, click here.

The field is headed by Strada Cavallo (NZ) (Alamosa) who is currently placed second in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. Trained by Graham Richardson at Matamata, the filly has had five starts and has yet to finish further back than fourth. A solid late finish at her last start for second to Risque (NZ) (Darci Brahma) in the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas was an eye-catching performance. The $60,000 Karaka graduate has drawn barrier 5 and Chris Johnson again rides.

Sired by New Zealand’s leading sire last season Savabeel, Coldplay (NZ) enhanced her claims with a dominant victory in this month’s Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni.  From New Zealand’s leading stable of Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Coldplay has two wins from four starts and has Opie Bosson as her rider. They have drawn barrier 10.

The second filly by the sire Alamosa, Alamer (NZ), was an impressive last start winner of the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial 3YO over 1500 metres at Ellerslie last month.  The Roger Lang trained filly will jump from barrier 7 and Samantha Collett will be aboard.

The Stephen Marsh trained Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi) returned from a unlucky two-start Australia campaign to record victory against three-year-old colts and geldings at Ellerslie at the beginning of December. Vinnie Colgan retains the ride and they will jump from near the outside in barrier 11.

Another last start winner is Capella (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle). Trained by Danica Guy at Matamata, Capella was an impressive winner at her home track last week. The daughter of Rip Van Winkle has won two of her four starts. Mark Du Plessis takes his first ride on the filly and they have drawn barrier 8.

Another Stephen Marsh runner Ruud Not Too (NZ) (Bernardini) booked her place in the field after a determined effort to beat the older horses at Te Rapa this month. The daughter of Bernardini has won her last two starts, going from a midweek maiden to winning on a premier day. Regular rider Danielle Johnson is in the saddle.

The consistent Volks Lightning (NZ) (Volksraad) for trainer Lance Noble has had one win and three seconds in four career starts. She raced greenly at her last start and Craig Grylls has been engaged to ride the filly for the first time. They have drawn barrier 3.

Another runner by Westbury Stud based stallion Makfi is the Michael Moroney and Chad Ormsby trainedRuby Armani (NZ) (Makfi). She’s the only runner that has not won either of her last two starts but she did win on debut at Matamata in October.  She has drawn the barrier 1.

The Mark Forbes trained Preetha Varma (NZ) (Keeper) has registered one win from three career starts. The Keeper filly won her second start at Tauranga and was an unlucky runner finishing fifth to Sofia Rosa at her previous start at Ellerslie.

The Savabeel filly Sewreel (NZ) is another from the powerful Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman stable and is a stablemate to Coldplay. After finishing fourth on debut, she went onto win her last start. Drawn the outside barrier of 12, she will be ridden by Matthew Cameron.

From the Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs stable is Valley Girl (NZ) (Mastercraftsman), a lightly tried filly with only two starts. A debut winner at Avondale last month, the daughter of Mastercraftsman then turned in a solid performance for fourth in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial 3YO against the colts and geldings. Kelly Myers retains the ride and they jump from barrier 9.

Debut winner Pasabahce (NZ) (Shocking) is trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, the daughter of Shocking won on her only race day start by a short neck at Tauranga. Trudy Thornton takes the reins and she has drawn barrier 6.

The NZB Filly of the Year Series is led by Risque, a dominant winner of the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas, with 12 points. Victory to either Strada Cavallo or Coldplay on Saturday would see them go to the lead.

To view the full field of the Group 2 $100,000 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m), click here.