Southern Venture Reaps Rewards for Raziah (NZ)

The Oaks Stud’s homebred filly Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) earned a chance to follow in the footsteps of a famous relative after taking first points in the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series in Saturday’s $80,000 Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton Park.

Raziah is a granddaughter of Group One winner Keepa Cruisin (NZ) (Keeper), whose mighty half-sister Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross) won seven Group One races in The Oaks Stud’s colours including the 2005 edition of the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). That fillies’ classic is now firmly on the radar for Raziah.

Trained in Cambridge by Tony Pike, Raziah went winless in three starts as a two-year-old last season, but was runner-up in two of them including the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m) at Wanganui in June. She won a trial on her home track in late August, then ventured south and kicked off her three-year-old season in style in Saturday’s Canterbury Belle.

Raziah was patiently ridden by Matt Cartwright and settled near the back of the field through the first half of the race. She began to creep closer as the field left the 1200-metre chute and came across on to the course proper, and she had moved up to fourth by the time she reached the home turn.

Cartwright asked Raziah to quicken in the straight and she lengthened stride, surging into the lead and repelling the strong-finishing Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) to win by a half-neck.

“This filly was the main reason I came down here today,” Cartwright said. “I thought she’d trialled up very well.

“Tony has gone a great job with her. She wasn’t sharp early in the race, but she was really good late, so I think getting up in distance will suit her.

“She’s a nice filly. She’s put away a nice enough field today, so she should take confidence from that and go on with it.”

Raziah’s four-start career has now produced a win, two seconds and $67,950 in stakes, along with valuable black type from Saturday’s win.

“She’s a very genuine filly who’s obviously improved a lot from two to three,” Pike said. “It’s a nice progression for her down here in the South Island this spring, and she’ll only get better as she gets up over further as well. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season with her.”

Raziah is now considered one of the favourites for the New Zealand 1000 Guineas, which will be run at Riccarton Park on November 16.

The Canterbury Belle Stakes was the opening leg of the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series, and Raziah’s victory earned her a table-topping 7 points. Runner-up Dream Of The Moon collected 4 points, with 2 points going to the third-placed Lavender Haze (Dubious).

The second leg of the NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series will be the $65,000 Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui on Boxing Day. The race was previously held in March but has been moved to a new position on the calendar.