Smart Field For Breeders Stakes
13 March 2003
The capacity field is headed by last start Group 1 winner Critic (Centaine x Benazir) and two of the country's most promising racehorses, Honor Babe (Honor Grades x Repremand) and Maze (Housebuster x Strangeways).
The under-rated Critic has blossomed over the summer and will be looking to consolidate her great form of late with another Group 1 victory. Based on her last start defeat of Group 1 2000 Guineas winner Hustler and five time Group 1 winner Tit for Taat in the Group 1 Family Hotel WFA, the Colin Jillings and Richard Yuill trained mare is an excellent chance in the prestigious fillies and mares race.
Challenging Critic for favouritism will be the exciting 4YO mare Honor Babe, who will be looking for her fifth straight victory in a row. Although 1600m is probably short of her best distance she should go a bold race after being freshened since her impressive last start victory at the beginning of January in the Listed Marton Cup, in which she came from a near impossible position at the rear of the field to win going away at the line.
The Moira Murdoch trained Maze is another up and comer with a withering finishing run and combined with a perfect record of two from two at the distance, Maze should make her presence felt in the race and feature at the finish.
The Alan Jones and Brett McDonald runner Foxy Blonde (Volksraad x Platinum Blond) is back from a successful hit and run mission in the South Island where she picked up two black type races and will be looking to see how that form stakes up in the North. The mile should suit Foxy Blonde, as she has won two from two at this distance.
Other strong contenders include dual Group 1 winner Elevenses (Star Way x Celtic Joy), who has class on her side, Zirna (Deputy Governor x Riverly Lass), who has run fourth at Group 1 level twice in her last three outings, and Rodrigo Rose (Rodrigo de Triano x Rosebrook), who has only been out of the placings once in eight attempts at 1600m.
The field for Saturday's New Zealand Bloodstock Breeders Stakes is as follows:
1) 1479X Elevenses (5)
2) 64381 River Chant (11)
3) 40134 Danart (14)
4) 38963 Ella Sierra (7)
5) 07047 For Love (12)
6) 87071 Surprize Surprize (10)
7) 13781 Scarlet Rose (17)
8) 13106 Burnzees Magic (6)
9) 34071 Fairy Tipsy (8)
10) 61411 Critic (19)
11) 41111 Honor Babe (4)
12) 33111 Foxy Blonde (9)
13) 52469 Venus Was Her Name (20)
14) 36211 Ma Gloire (18)
15) 42412 Winsome (15)
16) 83212 Rodrigo Rose (13)
17) 11442 Zirna (1)
18) 22111 Maze (3)
19) 37736 Mary Seton (16)
20) 10113 Tansorka (2)
Emergencies: Mary Seton and Tansorka.
Thanks largely to New Zealand Bloodstock's sponsorship the stake-money and Group status of the Breeders Stakes has increased significantly. Last year the calibre of the race was finally recognised and granted long awaited Group 1 status.
The fact that New Zealand Bloodstock sponsors the only Group 1 race in New Zealand for fillies and mares is testimony to our company's long term commitment to supporting quality black type racing for fillies and mares in New Zealand.
For further information on New Zealand Bloodstock see www.nzb.co.nz.