Reputabelle (NZ) Running Rampant in NZB Southern Filly Series

High-flying filly Reputabelle (NZ) (Pins) extended her winning streak to four in Saturday’s $60,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton, and her back-to-back Listed victories have virtually guaranteed her the title of New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year. 

After two wins in lower grades at Riccarton in January and February, Reputabelle stepped on to the big stage with a scintillating romp by almost six lengths in last month’s Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui – the second leg of the four-race Southern Filly Series. She added the third leg on Saturday and now has a commanding lead with 14 points, with nearest rival Art De Triomphe (NZ) (Vadamos) on 7 points and not contesting the autumn phase of the series.

Reputabelle’s outstanding black-type performances in her last two starts have confirmed her place at the top of her generation in the South Island this season, although she had to work harder for Saturday’s success.

Proven stakes performer Unusual Countess (NZ) (Unusual Suspect) produced a bold front-running performance and kept kicking strongly down the straight, but Reputabelle worked through her gears and gradually wore that rival down to score by half a length.

“Reputabelle is just going from strength to strength,” said Matthew Pitman, who trains in partnership with his father Michael. “Tina (Comignaghi, jockey) said she did a very professional job and it was a lot easier than it looked.

“Watching the race, we were delighted to see her take a sit on the speed, and we knew she would finish off strongly in the run home – she hadn’t spent a penny up until then.”

Bred by Waikato Stud, Reputabelle is by Pins out of Really Reputable (NZ) (O’Reilly), who is the dam of four other winners including Group Three placegetter Florence Jean (NZ) (Pins) and Listed performer Morse Code (NZ) (Pins).

Bought for just $14,000 off Gavelhouse.com, Reputabelle is raced by a number of long-time Pitman stable clients, including Jim Bruford, Chris Griffin and Sue Bourke. From seven starts, the filly has now recorded four wins and earned $93,690 in stakes.

She is now likely to get the opportunity to confirm her Southern Filly Series title with a run in the fourth and final leg, the $60,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on April 23.

“We will just see how she comes through today, but if she does well, then the Warstep Stakes could be next,” Pitman said.

“Some really nice horses have won this race, including Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), who went over to Sydney and impressed over there, so the thought of taking this filly to Queensland later on does hold some appeal.”

Unusual Countess picked up her first 4 points of the Series with Saturday’s second placing, while Divine Sava (NZ) (Savabeel) was another two lengths away in third and earned 2 points.