Residential Takes NZB Insurance Stakes

Quality filly Residential (NZ) (Pins) won her third stakes race in a row and took a prominent place on the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series table when she stormed home to take out Saturday’s second leg of the Series, the $50,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.

Residential had beaten her stablemate Starvoia (Starcraft) by a nose in the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1500m) and by four lengths in the Listed Southland Guineas (1600m).

The John and Karen Parsons-trained pair went to war again in Saturday’s fillies’ feature, with Starvoia taking control at the top of the straight and seemingly set to turn the tables on Residential. But under a perfectly timed ride from Gosen Jogoo, Residential came with a huge late run to catch Starvoia in the shadows of the post and win by half a length.

Residential was bred by Waikato Stud, who share ownership with Mark Ritchie, Jason Wardle, Michael Piaggi, Henry and Ron Williamson, Leslie and Ann Seaton and John and David Nixon. The exceptionally consistent filly has now had 11 starts for five wins, including three at stakes level, for prize-money of $118,500.

Residential did not contest the first leg of the Series, the $50,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in September. But she picked up 7 points for Saturday’s win, bringing her equal with Canterbury Belle Stakes winner La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think).

Starvoia has now finished second in both legs of the Series, earning a total of 8 points to move to the top of the table. A winner of three of her nine starts, Starvoia has been placed in five Listed races.

The third placegetter was Dontpokethetiger (Beneteau), who picked up 2 points to sit in equal fourth place alongside O’Naturelle (NZ) (O’Reilly).

The next leg of the Series is the $50,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on April 8.