Shikoba Seizes Filly Series Lead with Royal Stakes Victory

The Mark Walker trained, Shikoba (Chief Bearhart x Summary) shot to the lead in the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, with a convincing victory in the Gr.2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes (2000m) on New Year's Day at Ellerslie.

The three-year old daughter of Chief Bearhart recorded her first points in the Series just one week ago with a win in the Gr.2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day. That race saw her narrowly defeat Pulcinella (Stravinsky x Shall We Dance) - herself Group 2 winner of the Avondale Guineas in early December.

Sunday's race saw Pulcinella once again finish runner-up to Shikoba, this time with complete dominance by the Walker-trained filly who passed the post with a length and three-quarters to spare.

Finishing well for third was Twinkling (Star Way x Limitless) who enjoyed the extra distance of the Royal Stakes after managing only 10th in last week's Eight Carat Classic. Twinkling was a $60,000 purchase at New Zealand Bloodstock's Select Yearling Sale by Ross Ancell.

Shikoba is raced by London-based New Zealander, Micaela Murray, who also co-bred the filly with her parents, Stuart and Suzanne Murray. She was offered for Sale at the 2004 Karaka Premier Sale and passed-in for $30,000.

A Cape Cross half-sister to the Martin and Priscilla Liao owned Pulcinella will be offered at Lot 51 of the forthcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale through the draft of Wentwood Grange.

Shikoba was well ridden by Leith Innes and now has a four point buffer in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series with 16 points from Gr.1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner, Seachange (Cape Cross x Just Cruising) on 12.

Previous Filly of the Year Series winners include last season's victor, Justa Tad, plus Taatletail, Bramble Rose and Vapour Trail.

Pulcinella is currently third with 8 points, while dual stakes winner, Twinkling, has 2 points. There are four legs remaining in the ten-race Series, with 6 points for the winner of the next leg: the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on 28 January.