Shikoba Looking for Successive Victories in New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes

The Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes (2000m), to be run on New Years Day at Ellerslie, will be the sixth instalment in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

Last week's Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) heroine, Shikoba (Chief Bearhart x Summary), will be looking to usurp current series leader Seachange (Cape Cross x Just Cruising), with a win in Sunday's event. Shikoba currently trails Seachange by 4 points in the Filly of the Year Series.

The Don Sellwood trained, Pulcinella (Stravinsky x Shall We Dance) is expected to be hardest to beat once again, having finished a game second to Shikoba on Boxing Day despite being trapped wide throughout.

Promethean (Grand Lodge x Sarwatch), trained by Richard Yuill is another to back up from the Eight Carat Classic and is expected to appreciate the rise in distance to 2000m after closing solidly for fourth last week.

A winner of 2 from 3 starts, the Ross McCarroll trained, Purde (Bahhare x Dupre), takes on stakes company for the first time on Sunday and has the services of rider Vinny Colgan.

Rudy Lefting, trainer of last year's Series winner, Justa Tad (Istidaad x Infinity) will be hoping for similar success with another daughter of Istidaad, in Miss Trinadaad (Istidaad x Dana Scully), a last start winner at Avondale.

Lisa Cropp will ride the Moira Murdoch trained, Sabayon (Pins x Cajun Affair), a winner of her only start to date, while connections of Centapin (Pins x Centaine) will be hoping for a change in fortune. The daughter of Pins has finished runner up in her past 3 starts for trainer Lance Noble.

The next race in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series is the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes at Trentham on the 28th January.