Southern Fillies Ready for NZB Warstep Stakes

A field of thirteen has been assembled to contest the final race in the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

�The three-year-old fillies are scheduled to contest the NZ$50,000 prize purse at 3.40pm at the Canterbury Jockey Club meeting.

Wingatui's Steve Anderton saddles current leader, Grace Park (Danske x Stella Stargazer) who looks to have the Series sewn up with ten points and just two other fillies in the race on the leaderboard. However, she may have to share her crown if she fails to place on Saturday and the Tim Ryan trained Dutyful (Deputy Governor x Diana Ferrari) wins.

Dutyful, who sits on three points, has already made her trip South from Tauranga a successful one, running on well for a last start second to Grace Park in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1600m).

Kevin Hughes' Baci (Bertolini x Calm Conqueror) currently has one Series point and with seven awarded for first, three for second and one for third is no threat to Grace Park's Series lead.

Headlining the field, although not in contention in the Southern Filly Series, is Kevin Gray's Group 1 Levin Classic winner Porotene Gem (Pins x Rubyfoo). Making the trip South she could be Gray's third winner of the race.

Completing the field are It's Only Talk (Bertolini x Banter), Additionally (Traditionally x Stormy Alley), Doeface (Chief Bearhart x C'est Soir), Kapasha (Kashani x Upright), Marmalaide Jude (Stark South x Bohola), Maruia Springs (Thunder Gulch x Extra Heat), Shining Light (Star Way x Nuccina), Silent Hill (City on a Hill x Jungle Jill) and Sunday Stroll (Summer Suspicion x Mi Bu Bu).

The winner of the Series will be the twenty-seventh to be crowned the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year. Previous winners who've gone on to produce stakes-winners include Mercurous (the dam of outstanding Hong Kong performer Figures), Sea Princess, Hint, Ultra Sound, Seamist, Tartan Tights and Iguazu (the dam of this weekend's promising runner in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet, Splashing Out).

Click here to view previous winners of the four-race Series which started in 1980.