Soriano the 21st for Savabeel

Consistent three-year-old filly Soriano (NZ) took her first stakes victory – and her first points in NZB’s Filly of the Year Series – with a tough win in Saturday’s $70,000 Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni.

Trained by Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, Soriano (Savabeel x Call Me Lily) earned six points in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series, taking her to a share of third place with Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes winner Pure Elegance (Redoute’s Choice).

Saturday’s race saw the daughter of Savabeel race just off the speed and hold off the fast finishing Emerald Queen (O’Reilly) and Lovetessa (O’Reilly) in the straight to win by one-and-a-half lengths.

Emerald Queen and Lovetessa also earned their first points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, taking 3 and 1.5 points each.

Soriano has showed all the makings of a Group filly and looks another talented youngster to come from what is shaping up as a strong crop of three-year-olds. The filly won her debut at two before running fourth and sixth in New Zealand’s two-year-old Group 1 races last season.

Saturday’s win was the second of Soriano’s ten-race career and she has raced well this season, running fourth in the Group 2 NZB Wellington Guineas and third in the Group 1 Levin Classic at her last appearance.

Bred and raced by Denise Howell, Soriano was passed in by Dormello Stud at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale and has now won just under $90,000. A full brother to Soriano was purchased by Paul Willetts from Trelawney Stud at the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale for $65,000.

Soriano is the 21st stakes winner for her sire Savabeel who has 33 yearlings set to be offered at the 2013 Karaka Yearling Sales. Savabeel’s progeny have made a good start to the season with Lady Kipling winning the Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes and Lopov, Savvy Dancer and Ray's Girl all winning at stakes level.

The next leg in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series, the $85,000 Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m), will be held at Ellerslie on 26 December. To view the race schedule and current points table for the Filly of the Year Series, click here.