Soliloquy Marks Race 2 in NZB Fillies Series

A fresh batch of three-year-old fillies are eyeing up their first points in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series with Race 2, the Listed $50,000 Allied Workforce Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), to be run this Saturday at Ellerslie.

Last weekend saw the NZB Filly of the Year Series kick off with Bounding (Lonhro) taking an early lead in the ten-race Series with a 6-point victory in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes.

The Listed Soliloquy Stakes offers 4 points to Saturday’s winner, and has attracted a promising field of 13 fillies to be run as race 5 at 2.30pm on Auckland Racing Club’s weekend premier meeting.

Heading the field as the highest rated horse is the Leo Molloy trained filly Girl of My Dreams (Gold Centre), the only multiple winner in the field having recorded two wins from her eight career starts. The Gold Centre filly was last seen running third in the Listed Wanganui Guineas, and will be ridden by David Walsh for the second time on Saturday.

The unbeaten Spellbinder (O’Reilly) is the first of two runners for Te Akau Racing’s Jason Bridgman. The Karaka graduate was an impressive winner at her only start at Taupo, coming into that race on the back of four undefeated efforts at the trials. She has the services of stable jockey Matthew Cameron from the outside barrier.

The second runner in the field for Jason Bridgman is Ruthless Lady (Keeper), also a Karaka graduate, jumping from gate 1 with Noel Harris aboard. The Keeper filly has had six starts, winning once and placing a further three times. This will be her second attempt at stakes level having contested the Listed Wanganui Guineas at her last start.

The only other winner in the race is the Bruce Wallace trained Beck and Call (Iffraaj), a winner as two-year-old at Avondale. The Karaka Select Sale graduate was caught wide at her only other start in the Listed Westbury Stud Challenge Stakes at Ruakaka in behind El Roca.

Gary Alton has the consistent Designated Driver (Danroad) entered in the race. The Danroad filly has not been out of the placings in her first three starts and ran second at her at her latest appearance on 11 September at Te Rapa.

Karaka Select Sale graduate Matauri Bay (Al Maher) was narrowly beaten at her only start when going down by a nose at Te Rapa earlier this month. The Lance Noble trained filly has drawn wide for rider Mark Hills but with the inclement weather this week that may not be a disadvantage with a heavy track likely.

Another having her second start is Emmuska (Sir Percy) for trainer Shaun Clotworthy. The Karaka graduate is fresh from a spell having debuted as a two-year-old when finishing fifth in a strong form race at Ruakaka and has had two trials to get fit for Saturday’s race.

Roger James appears to have a strong hand in the races with a two-pronged attack. His first runner, the Karaka graduate Lady Cumquat (Duke of Marmalade) is having her second start after finishing third on debut at Te Rapa.

The Cambridge trainer’s other runner is the well-bred Miss Foxwood (Fastnet Rock). She has had two starts, placing third on debut as a two-year-old and beaten half-a-length when running fourth earlier this month.

The training partnership of Donna & Dean Logan also has two runners entered in the field. Karaka Premier graduate Big Voices (Duke of Marmalade) has had four starts, picking up a check in all of her starts including at her last start behind El Roca. Their other runner, Thornbird Lass (Thorn Park), is also a Karaka graduate and is another carrying El Roca form when finishing one place behind her stable mate in sixth.

Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has Zanotti (Strategic Image) engaged for Go Racing Syndicator Albert Bosma. The filly has only had three starts, placing twice and running on late when unplaced in the Listed Ryder Stakes as a two-year-old.

Another Cambridge trained runner is Rosado (Any Suggestion) for young trainer Lisa O’Shea. The Any Suggestion filly is fresh up from a two-year-old campaign where she recorded two placings and has been a winner at the trials in preparation for her seasonal return.

An early scratching from the race has been the last runner in the book Lady Le Fay (Thorn Park).

The winner of the Listed Allied Workforce Soliloquy Stakes will receive 4 points in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, with second earning 2 points and third 1 point. The next race in the Series will be the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas where 12 points will be up for grabs for the winner.

To view the full field for the Listed Allied Workforce Soliloquy Stakes, click here.

To view the leaderboard and race schedule for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, click here.