Smitten Kitten Favoured to Dominate Southern Filly Series

The battle for the title of New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Filly of the Year resumes on Sunday with the running of the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.

With three legs remaining in the four-race series, the Jan Hay trained Smitten Kitten (Volksraad x Vanderbilt) is the only runner in Sunday's event to have registered a point on the series leaderboard. The Volksraad three-year-old placed third in the Series opener behind outstanding filly, Shikoba (Chief Bearhart x Summary) in the New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in September of last year.

Shikoba subsequently proved New Zealand's most consistent filly, acclaimed New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year on the back of successive victories in three Group 2 events in the North Island.

The well fancied Smitten Kitten enters Sunday's race as a last start winner at Wingatui in early February. Smitten Kitten had earlier ventured North, placing third behind subsequent New Zealand Oaks winner, Legs (Pins x River Century) in the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni in December.

Kevin Hickman purchased Smitten Kitten at the 2004 Karaka Select Yearling Sale for NZ$40,000 and came back this year to secure her half brother by Van Nistelrooy for NZ$90,000. Both were sold by Haunui Farm.

Riccarton based Shane Kennedy and Ricky Carston, have Lady Penelope (Pentire x Top Cut) engaged in what will be her ninth career start. The stable recently had a successful trip North with 3YO filly Italia (Stravinsky x Capote Crossing) victorious in the $500,000 NZB 2YO Classique, while stablemate Hurrah (Bahhare x Shock Attack) finished a game 2nd the Gr. 1 Starcraft New Zealand Stakes (2000m). Lady Penelope has proved a consistent performer having placed in 4 of her 8 starts.

Andrew Calder is making the trip South to take the ride aboard the Nick Wigley trained, Mystify (Montjeu x Seamist). The impeccably bred daughter of Montjeu will be looking to emulate her Group One winning dam, Seamist, who won the 1990 Southern Filly of the Year Series.

John and Karen Parsons of Belcairn have a two pronged attack in the race with the Australian bred Noi (Racer's Edge x Shavary Lady) and Miss Benro (Cullen x Deutzia). Both are winners and look to be on the way up. Noi has won three of her five starts including her Maiden and also once at Wingatui.

The Sally McKay/Ben Gordon trained Go Thestags (Exploding Prospect x Redeno) and the Brian and Shane Anderton trained Revealing (Brief Truce x Ebony Tudor) both enter the race off the back of last start maiden victories.

Revealing was a NZ$50,000 purchase by Fennessy & Associates at the 2004 Karaka Select Sale from Mapperley Stud.

The next race in the Series is Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight (1600m) at Riccarton on the 22nd April.