Shikoba Favoured in Cambridge Stud Fillies Classic

Current New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series leader, Shikoba (Chief Bearhart x Summary) will be hoping to extend her four point lead in the Series when she takes on a strong field in the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Shikoba will have the services of Te Akau Stables' jockey, Michael Walker, back in the saddle after he missed her last two starts which resulted in two Group 2 wins over the Ellerslie Christmas Carnival under Leith Innes.

The Don Sellwood trained, Pulcinella (Stravinsky x Shall We Dance) will be looking to turn the tables on Shikoba, having placed second behind the Mark Walker trained runner in both the Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic and the New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes. A pint sized daughter of Stravinsky, Pulcinella ran an honest race for third at her most recent outing, beaten half a length by Series challenger, Out Of Align (Align x Limerick).

Highview Stud stallion, Align, has two runners in the event with genuine chances in Out Of Align and Everswindell (Align x Hilarion Lady).

The Gary Vile trained, Out Of Align turned in an outstanding performance to take out the Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), despite being posted wide throughout. Out Of Align will be looking to add to her tally of six points and looks ideally suited by the rise in distance to 2000m.

Similarly, the John Sargent trained, Everswindell, has been finishing her races off stylishly and will appreciate the step up in distance. Everswindell is currently fifth in the Filly of the Year Series.

The lightly raced, Fancyfree (Danasinga x Girls Talk) has drawn the prized inside gate and caught the eye with a closing fifth place behind leading filly, Shikoba, on New Year's Day.

Promising filly, Promethean (Grand Lodge x Sarwatch) will have to overcome a wide gate, having drawn barrier 14. The daughter of Gr.2 Royal Stakes winner, Sarwatch, Promethean is likely to be suited by the 2000m journey.

The Roger James trained Asmahan (Zabeel x She's Country) has shown plenty of ability in her three starts to date and is on track to emulate the feats of her dam, She's Country, winner of the New Zealand Oaks in 2000.

Last start winner, Shesalwaysawoman (Casual Lies x Tosca) faces a steep class rise having won in weaker company at Trentham last start, taking her record to two wins from five starts.

Also greeting the starter for the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic will be Purde (Bahhare x Dupre), Our Flying Beauty (Desert King x Bibi Maizoon), Myriad (Kaapstad x True Colours), Sabayon (Pins x Cajun Affair), Kruger Valley (Kaapstad x Eastend) and Florella (Volksraad x Calceolaria).

Tomorrow's Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic is the eighth leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, which comprises 10 races, concluding with the ING Life New Zealand Oaks (2400m) on March 18. The winner of Saturday's Group 2 event will secure eight points, with four for second and two points for third. For the full schedule of races and current points table, visit http://www.nzb.co.nz/.