Sparkling Fillies Gear Up for Eight Carat Classic
24 December 2020
With 28 points up for grabs in two Group Two races within the space of six days, Ellerslie’s Christmas Carnival looms a pivotal period in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.
Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma) currently tops the table with 15 points, but her connections have their sights set on Sydney for the remainder of her three-year-old campaign.
That leaves the race for the coveted title wide open, and all eyes will be on Ellerslie over the coming week. The $100,000 Group Two Jamieson Park Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day is worth 8 points for first, 4 for second and 2 for third, and the $100,000 Group Two Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (2000m) on New Year’s Day carries the same number of points.
A potential big mover in the Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day is De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man), who currently shares third place on the table with 6 points courtesy of her victory in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) in October. Sweet Anna (NZ) (Tavistock) is the other runner in the Eight Carat field with points to her name, collecting 3 points for a second placing in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).
Series newcomers Moana (NZ) (Ocean Park), Helsinki (NZ) (Savabeel) and Fleetwood Maca (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) have all been stakes-placed this season, while seven others in the talented line-up have been recent winners.
The Jamieson Park Eight Carat Classic will be run as Race 8 on Saturday with a start time of 4.35pm.
View the full 2020-21 NZB Filly of the Year Series leaderboard here.
| # | Horse | Draw | Comments | Trainer | Jockey | Purchaser Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | De La Terre | 14 | A full-sister to the Group One performer Aalaalune (NZ) (Reliable Man), talented filly De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man) was a $55,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2019 by Rogerson Bloodstock. She has had 13 starts for four wins, three placings and $110,760 in stakes, including a strong front-running victory in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) in October, which earned her 6 NZB Filly of the Year Series points. | Team Rogerson | Ryan Elliot | Karaka 2019, Book 1, $55,000 by Rogerson Bloodstock |
| 2 | Moana | 11 | Although she is still a maiden, Moana (NZ) (Ocean Park) has placed in three of her five starts including a close and desperately unlucky third in the Group Two Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m). The two horses that finished a nose and a head in front of her, Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls) and Bourbonaire (NZ) (Darci Brahma), later finished first and second in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m). Moana was offered in Book 1 of Karaka 2019, but did not meet her $30,000 reserve. | Chad Ormsby | Chad Ormsby | Karaka 2019, Book 1, Passed In |
| 3 | Sweet Anna | 8 | Tavistock filly Sweet Anna (NZ) was a $100,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2019. After an impressive three-length maiden win earlier in the spring, she collected 3 NZB Filly of the Year Series points with a second placing in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m). In her only subsequent start, she produced a strong finish for sixth in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Michael McNab | Karaka 2019, Book 1, $100,000 by Moody Racing |
| 4 | Helsinki | 9 | Helsinki (NZ) (Savabeel) was bought for $525,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2019 by Barneswood Farm's Ger Beemsterboer. A close relative to the multiple Group One winner and sire Sacred Falls (NZ), she has had six starts for five placings, including a last-start second in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m). | Peter & Dawn Williams | Danielle Johnson | Karaka 2019, Book 1, $525,000 by Mr GC Beemsterboer |
| 5 | Fleetwood Maca | 3 | Fleetwood Maca (NZ) (Rock 'n' Pop) is out of the Group One-winning mare Macavelli Miss (Vettori), who is also the dam of South African Group One winner Mac de Lago (Encosta de Lago). After an impressive win at Ellerslie on Melbourne Cup day in early November, Fleetwood Maca stepped up to black-type company with an unlucky third in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m). | Michael Moroney & Pam Gerard | Andrew Calder | |
| 6 | Amarelinha | 12 | Savabeel filly Amarelinha (NZ) was a $300,000 purchase by Te Akau's David Ellis in Book 1 of Karaka 2019, and she is closely related to this season's Group One Golden Rose (1400m) runner-up North Pacific (Brazen Beau). Beaten by a nose on debut in mid-November, Amarelinha was an easy winner of her only other start at Ellerslie on December 5. The runner-up in that race, Dawn Parade (Dawn Approach), won his next start. | Jamie Richards | Opie Bosson | Karaka 2019, Book 1, $300,000 by Mr DC Ellis |
| 7 | Cheaperthandivorce | 10 | Cheaperthandivorce (NZ) (Savabeel) will try to follow in the footsteps of her dam, who made a major impact in the NZB Filly of the Year Series 13 years ago. She is out of Boundless (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy), who won the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham. Boundless has subsequently produced four stakes winners, including Richie McHorse (NZ) (Redoute's Choice) at Listed level. Cheaperthandivorce made her debut on December 2 and made a big first impression, scoring a brilliant win over 1400 metres at Rotorua. | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | Vinnie Colgan | |
| 8 | Royce Roca | 4 | El Roca filly Royce Roca (NZ) was an impressive three-length trial winner in July, then made a strong start to her career with a win and a placing from four starts between August and October. She has been off the scene since then, but recently chased home the superstar older mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) in a trial at Avondale. | Peter & Dawn Williams | Shaun McKay | |
| 9 | Shezdelicious | 1 | By the successful but sadly short-lived sire Atlante, Shezdelicious (NZ) is a half-sister to dual Group One winner Madison County (NZ) (Pins). In her only start to date, Shezdelicious was a strong winner over 1400 metres at Rotorua on December 2. | Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman | Lynsey Satherley | |
| 10 | Slave to Love | 5 | A daughter of Savabeel and the Group Two placegetter Moochi Me (Dubawi), Slave to Love (NZ) has had two starts, winning the most recent of them at Ellerslie on December 10. | Peter & Dawn Williams | Ashvin Goindasamy | |
| 11 | Tango Love | 7 | Tango Love (NZ) (Showcasing) was a $28,000 purchase by Cypress Point Stables from Book 2 of Karaka 2019. She won a maiden race convincingly at Counties two starts back, and in her most recent appearance she made up late ground for seventh in the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial (1500m). | Jenna Mahoney | Samantha Collett | Karaka 2019, Book 2, $28,000 by Cypress Point Stables |
| 12 | Needle and Thread | 2 | Needle and Thread (NZ) (Makfi) is a full-sister to the Group One performer and sire Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi). She made a winning debut at Rotorua last month, and has been close up behind the placegetters in two subsequent appearances. | Stephen Autridge & Kris Shailer | Craig Grylls | |
| 13 | Devotioninmotion | 6 | Bought for $46,000 from Book 2 of Karaka 2019 by BAX Bloodstock Achieving Xcellence, Devotioninmotion (NZ) (Proisir) has placed in three of her four starts to date. Her only time further back than third was a creditable fifth in the Group Three Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) earlier this month. | Graham Richardson & Rogan Norvall | Leith Innes | Karaka 2019, Book 2, $46,000 by B.A.X Bloodstock |
| 14 | Camarosa | 13 | Iffraaj filly Camarosa (NZ) is out of a half-sister to the Australian Group One winners Canny Lad (Bletchingly) and Canny Lass (Bletchingly). In the first two starts of her career, Camarosa has made eye-catching late finishes to run second and third. | Roger James & Robert Wellwood | Sam Weatherley | |
| 15 | Arancia | 16 | Arancia (NZ) (Sweet Orange) has placed in two of her nine starts, including a fighting second at Te Rapa in her most recent appearance. | Team Rogerson | Jasmine Fawcett | |
| 16 | Sainte Elisabeth | 15 | Contributer filly Sainte Elisabeth (NZ) is out of a half-sister to the Group One winner Prince Kaapstad (NZ) (Kaapstad). After finishing eighth on debut, she has improved her position with every start, running fifth, fourth and a last-start third at Tauranga. | Moira & Kieran Murdoch | Masa Hashizume | Karaka 2019, Book 1, Passed In |