Southern Fillies Share Spotlight
19 September 2008
Not only does the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series kick off tomorrow butso too doesthe New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series.
The $55,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton is the first leg of the four-race Series. All four Listed races are sponsored by New Zealand Bloodstock with the title of New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year going to the three-year-old who accrues the most points.
Placed as race nine on the card, a sizeable field of 17 fillies will chase the seven points for first, three for second and one for third.
Reigning Mercedes Trainer of the Year Michael Pitman has three chances in the race with Balzane (Van Nistelrooy x Dramatically by Royal Academy), Julia (Ishiguru x Pines Princess by Bluebird) and The Pipi Pincher (Rusty Spur x Our Blue Banker by British Banker). Keeping it an all-girl affair, he's booked three female hoops for the respective rides with Centaine Spittles, Danielle Johnson and Ashlee Mundy.
Balzane won the New Zealand Bloodstock2YO (1000m) at Riccarton back in May and has recorded four placings from six starts. Her last two starts have seen her finish third behind the likes of stakes-performer Rueben Thorn (Thorn Park), Moveovr (Postponed) and The Pipi Pincher.
The Pipi Pincher is of the more experienced runners in the field with eight starts for two wins and three seconds. Recent performances have seen her win at Oamuru followed by a strong second at Timaru on 4 September.
Julia won on debut as a two year old at Otaki and has only been out of the money once in five starts.
Bankside Belle (Volksraad x Chianina by Super Imposing) is one of three runners from the Mark Walker stable. Tomohiro Sasada has the ride. With two wins and two stakes placings to her name includingsecond in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Fillies Stakes (1200m) to Juice (Bertolini) and fourth in the Group 2 Robin, Duke Of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m).
Also from the Walker stable is Bubbles On Ice (Encosta de Lago x Crystalina by Danehill) who'll be ridden by Tasha Collett. She's had one raceday start in the LI Redshaw 2YO Maiden Stakes (1400m) as a two year old and should prove much stronger tomorrow as a three year old.
Rounding off the Walker trio is the unbeaten winner of the Group 2 Robin, Duke of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes (1200m) Te Akau Coup (Thorn Park x Beyond the Sunset by Gone West). The win saw her beating the reigning Mercedes Two Year Old of the Year Il Quello Veloce (Captain Rio) and smart filly Raid (Pins). Te AkauStables apprentice Sam Collett has the ride.
Tripping South from Andrew Scott's Matamata stable is Bellalini (Bertolini x Rosa Bella by Prince Raider). Apprentice rider Chad Ormsby has the ride on the filly who's won one of two starts with the other being a creditable sixth in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO Fillies Stakes (1200m).
Also crossing the Cook Strait is Platinum Zana (Noverre x Fanfare by Mighty Avalanche) from Lisa Latta's Palmerston North base. Masa Tanaka has the ride on the filly who won three starts ago as a two year old at Wellington after some good form in the North.
With one start for a nice sixth over 1200m, and a trial win before that, Christmas Eve (More Than Ready x Coral Sand by Indian Ridge) will take the line for Shane Kennedy under Lisa Young.
Crystal Vision (Sunray x Meadow Fresh by Volksraad) will represent Ashburton-based Daniel Champion. She ran a very nice second on debut to Citi de Lago (Encosta de Lago) in a 1200m two year old race back in June and will be ridden by Patrick Bell.
Shane Marr has stakes-race runners on both Islands on Saturday with 2005-06 NZB Southern Filly Series Winner Ombre Rose (O'Reilly) lining up in the Group 1 Stoney Bridge Stakes (1600m) in Hastings and Elusive Star (Elusive City x Tall Story by Carnegie) looking for her first win in the South. Jarrod Todd is booked for the ride, jumping from barrier 11. She has shown promise with a good fourth in the New Zealand Bloodstock 2YO (1000m) in May behind Balzane and Citi de Lago.
The Paul Harris-trained Full Pitch (Stay Tuned x Kartia by Kashani) broke maiden ranks with a last start win over 1200m at Oamuru last month. Patrick Holmes retains the ride while Renee Fraser continues her partnership with stablemate Polly Rocket (Danroad x Huntley Belle by Hula Town). She'll be looking to open her bank account on Saturday with two sixth placings to date.
Ross Beckett has enlisted Lance Robinson for the ride on Loch Ranza (Al Jadeed x Bunnahabhain by The Jogger). She produced a nice second on debut at Oamuru followed with a strong win at Timaru on 4 September.
John & Karen Parsons have the talented Metropolitan (Elusive City x Our Diva by Oregon) who'll be ridden by Maria Hayston. Racing in top company she has had four starts for two seconds and two thirds including a second to Amaryllis and a third to Juice.
Rounding off the field is the Terry Kennedy-trained Miss Millbrook (No Excuse Needed x Arche by Danasinga) with Kylie Williams in the saddle. She produced a nice win at Ashburton on 13 July over 1250m and was sixth behind Moveovr and The Pipi Pincher at Timaru on 4 September.
Last season the Michael Daly-trained Belmont Cat (Felix the Cat x Morgan Glory by Justice Prevails) took out the prestigious Series.