Smitten Kitten Takes Lead in Southern Filly Series

Smitten Kitten (Volksraad x Vanderbilt) lived up to expectations on Sunday, winning the second leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, the Listed NZ$30,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui.

In doing so she added to her existing one point in the Series after third place in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) in September. Smitten Kitten now has the lead in the Series on eight points. Shikoba (Cheif Bearhart x Summary) sits in second although poses no risk to the leader as she will not be contesting any of the remaining races.

Trained at Ashburton by Jan Hay, Smitten Kitten was bred by Roberts Holdings and purchased at the 2004 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Sale by Kevin Hickman for NZ$40,000.

John and Karen Parsons trained runners filled the minor placings, with Noi (Racers' Edge x Shavary Lady) continuing her consistent form to finish second, beaten a half length. Stablemate Miss Benro (Cullen x Deutzia), finished a similar margin away in third in the hands of Kylie Williams.

Smitten Kitten, piloted by leading South Island jockey, Chris Johnson, registered her fifth victory from 10 starts. The daughter of Volksraad has only finished out of a place once in her career to date, when a game fifth to Seachange (Cape Cross x Just Cruising) in the New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas.

Canterbury Jockey Club will host the two remaining legs of the Series with the next instalment being the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton on 22nd April. The final race will be the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) on the 6th May.