Smitten Kitten to Defend Lead in the NZB Southern Filly Series
21 April 2006
The penultimate race of the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series will be contested at Riccarton tomorrow, with the running of the Listed $30,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m).
Heading the line-up is current Series leader, Smitten Kitten (Volksraad x Vanderbilt), trained by Jan Hay. A last start winner in impressive style, she is a five-time victor from her 10 career starts, finishing further back than third on just one ocassion. Bred by Roberts Holdings Ltd, current part-owner Kevin Hickman paid NZ$40,000 for Smitten Kitten at the 2004 Karaka Select Sale.
On eight points Smitten Kitten has a one point lead from Shikoba (Chief Bearhart x Summary), with Noi (Racer's Edge x Shavary Lady) and Mystical (My Halo x Miami) both on three points. Noi is the only one of the three starting on Saturday. After her close second to Smitten Kitten in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui in March, a win will give her four points and put her in striking distance of Smitten Kitten's lead with just one race in the four-race Series left to contest.
Bringing some great form to the race is Listed CJC South Island Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes (1600m) winner, Ombre Rose (O'Reilly x Lady Chanele). Trained by Shane Marr at Riccarton, she has won four of her five raceday starts as well as her two trials. Brian Hibberd has ridden the talented filly in all of her starts and will partner her again on Saturday.
Having been placed in all but one of her seven starts, including two wins, Sheezawake (Pins x The Wake) is another last start winner, also trained by Jan Hay in Ashburton. Sheezawake will be looking to become the 10th stakeswinner for her sire, Pins.
Mystify (Montjeu x Seamist), daughter of 1990 Southern Filly of the Year winner Seamist, returns to the Series and is a likely chance to get points on the board. The Nick Wigley trained filly has been racing against some tough company including in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas (1600m) and the Group 3 Williams and Adams Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), and should appreciate the drop back in class.
Montjeu is represented by another filly in the race in Northern Night (Montjeu x On Air). From Mark Walker's Rangiora training base, she recently broke her maiden in Ashburton. Apprentice Patrick Holmes takes the ride in this her third raceday start.
David Ellis purchased Northern Night at the 2004 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale for NZ$82,500 from Whakanui Stud.
Top South Island trainers, Shane Kennedy and Ricky Carston will start the daughter of six time winner, Top Cut, in Lady Penelope (Pentire x Top Cut). To date, Lady Penelope has won a maiden race and was fourth in her last start, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1400m). Curraghmore Stud is to offer a full brother to Lady Penelope at the upcoming National Weanling Sale at Karaka on 7 May.
With the scratching of Dewofthesea (Carnegie x Lillie Blue Eyes) the nine-horse field is rounded off by New Zealand Bloodstock Sale graduates Condore (Desert Fox) and Nobel (Prized x Dot's Honour).
Trevor McKee secured Condore at the 2004 Karaka Festival Yearling Sale for NZ$3,500 from Westbury Stud while Christchurch's Gilbert Butterick paid just NZ$400 for Nobel at the 2003 National Weanling Sale.