Southern Fillies Light Up Again

New Zealand Bloodstock's 2009/10 Southern Filly of the Year Series lights up again with the running of the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Saturday.

The second leg of the four-race Series follows the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) which was won by Black Eyed Grace (Van Nistelrooy) on 19 September. Her win gave her 7 points and the early lead in the Southern Filly Series, with second place-getter Te Akau Rose (Thorn Park) receiving 3 points, and third place-getter Sandie (Footstepsinthesand) earning 1 point.

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�Bird, the 2008/09 NZB Southern Filly of the Year

The same number of points are awarded in all four Southern Filly events and, with none of the current top three fillies lining up on Saturday, the race will be a grand opportunity for one of the 14 strong field to put themselves in contention.

Heading the field is Richard Collett's last start Listed Southland Guineas winner, The Beekeeper (Keeper x The Peacemaker), who has mixed it with the best Southern colts and fillies of late and shown superiority.

A fast finisher, The Beekeeper should find herself handier on Saturday from barrier 1 and she will be poised to pounce in the roomy Riccarton track with Jason Collett aboard.

The next three in the book, Steven Prince's Chaparella (High Chaparral x Peak Time), Michael Pitman's Raewyn Coup (Mossman x Belle of the Ball), and Mark Walker's A La Votre (Volksraad x Thelma's Decision), look the main dangers to The Beekeeper.

Chaparella has shown her class by beating the boys in the Listed Gore Guineas after winning the Dunedin Guineas prelude the start before. A filly with clear ability, Chaparella jumps from barrier 7 with Jay Misbah in the saddle.

Raewyn Coup carries the colours of prominent South Island racing supporter Ray Coupland. She has won her three races from her past four starts with ease and jockey David Walsh should find a nice position from barrier 6.

A La Votre has won two of her past three for New Zealand's champion trainer Mark Walker. The daughter of leading sire Volksraad looks set to be handy from barrier 4 and will be applying pressure early in the home straight.

Mark Walker's second representative in the race is Croix Du Sud (Howbaddouwantit x Fairdale Lass) whose ability saw her contest the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas in November. Since then the filly has faced older opposition on three occasions and not finished further back than fourth which holds her in good stead for Saturday.

Terry Kennedy's Lesley Brook (No Excuse Needed x Polka) has won more races than any filly in the field with four victories, the highlight being the Listed Ford Welcome Stakes over Ransom Success. Her third in the Listed Southland Guineas at Riccarton last start showed she was back to her best and with Chris Johnson in the saddle she will get every chance from outmost barrier 15.

The remainder of the field are all Southern trained fillies on the way up with a victory apiece from brief race careers.

Those with inside barrier draws include Peter and Dawn Williams' well-bred Bellonet (Hussonet x Redoute's Belle), Terri Rae's Ishiabeel (Ishiguru x Danceabeel), and Shane Kennedy's Champagne Joy (Thorn Park x Madamina).

Fillies drawn outside mid-field include Russel McKay's super consistent Miss El Bee Dee (Danzighill x Long Bay), Sally and Ben Gordon's Lisboa (Van Nistelrooy x Florette), Tarsha and Miachael Stokes' Howbaddouneedit (Howbaddouwantit x Vaguely Jet), John McKay's Surraar (Ekraar x Surprize Offer) and Tommy Becket's Volonte (My Halo x Ginty's Gold).

The Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1200) is set to jump at 4.25pm from Wingatui.