Strong Field for Listed NZB Insurance Stakes

Racing at Riccarton on Saturday will see a full field of talented fillies contest the third leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's Southern Filly of the Year Series, the Listed $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1600m).

The third leg of the four race Series, the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes will see a capacity field of 18 fillies take to the track in search of gaining the valuable black type on offer. The Southern Filly of the Year Series currently sees two fillies tied for the lead with Kasumi (Shinko King) and Cora Lynn (Golan) both on seven points.

Cora Lynn (ex Coraletta) won the last leg of the Series, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes (1400m) at Wingatui, coming with a powerful gallop from the back of the field to win by half-a-head.

The Mandy & Matt Brown trained filly will have a chance to extend her lead in the Series on Saturday. She comes into the race after running second at a recent trial at Ashburton and has drawn well in barrier two with Terry Moseley to ride.

Sporting the number one saddle cloth and jumping from the ace barrier with Shannon Doyle to ride, Abeautifulred (Handsome Ransom x You Beauty) has proven a tough performer for her trainers Graeme & Debbie Rogerson. She comes into the race after running a tough third against the older mares in the Group 3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) at her last start at Trentham.

The Brian & Shane Anderton trained Ortem Fire (Gallant Guru x Emerald Fire) looked home in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes last start before being run down by Cora Lynn in the final stages. That effort earned her three points and a share of second place in the Series and she will jump from barrier eight on Saturday with Jay Misbah to ride.

New Zealand's leading trainer John Sargent will have two runners in the race headlined by Orutan (Pins x Naturo). She has not had the best of luck in some of her races but was impressive when winning her last start at Riccarton late last month by two-and-a-half-lengths and has drawn barrier 16 with Darryl Bradley in the saddle.

Sargent will also saddle Sometime Later (Postponed x Catania) who ran a close second at her last start at Riccarton in late March and will jump from barrier six.

Trainers John & Karen Parsons have a big team in the race with four runners including Locket (Keeper x Equity Rose) who had few favours in her last start in the Listed South Island Breeders' Stakes, and Asavant (Zabeel x Pins 'N' Needles) who contested the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks at her last start. The pair have drawn barriers 13 and nine respectively.

The trainers will also saddle Arietta (Falkirk x Prussian Doll) and Semper Plus (Howbaddouwantit x Grandiose) who both contested the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes two starts ago, with Arietta running a good third, earning one point in the Series. The fillies will jump from gates seven and 19 respectively.

Jason Bridgman will saddle two runners in Saturday's race, Pussy O'Reilly (O'Reilly x Octapussy) and Viana (Volksraad x Hecuba).

A sister to Group 2 winning two-year-old Pussy Willow, Pussy O'Reilly comes back in distance after contesting the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) and the Listed Sunline Vase (2100m) at her last starts and has drawn barrier 12 with Jamie Bullard to ride. Viana also comes back in trip after running over 2000 metres at Riccarton in late February and will jump next to her stablemate from gate 11.

Are You Devious (Captain Rio x Gold Amber) will represent trainer Stephen Marsh and has been competitive in her last two starts placing over a mile at Te Rapa and Matamata and has drawn 15.

The Murray Baker trained Passilente (More Than Ready x Trezevant) will jump from barrier 10 after a sharp winning performance over 1400 metres at Taranaki last week, and Kerrytown Lady (Shinko King x Golden Satchel) will drop back in distance after winning over 2200 metres at Motukarara last week for trainer Thelma Foley.

Miss Construe (Manton x Constitute) and Sapling (Pins x Katie O'Neill) also come into the race off last start victories. Miss Construe has only had two starts but looked smart when breaking her maiden in her last appearance at Paeroa for her trainer Ralph Manning and has drawn four. Sapling also looked smart when breaking her maiden last start for trainer Stephen McKee after a string of tough races but has a wide draw of 17 to contend with.

The Sean Bellew trained Sucre (Ishiguru x Carrie) and Yazoom (Yamanin Vital x Nzoom) from Bruce Jenkins' yard both contested the last leg of the Series, the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes, and have drawn gates 18 and 14 respectively.

The winner of the Listed $50,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes (1600m) will receive 7 points in New Zealand Bloodstock's Southern Filly of the Year Series, with second place earning 3 points and third 1 point.

Click here to view the current points table for New Zealand Bloodstock's Southern Filly of the Year Series. The New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes will be held at Riccarton on Saturday at 3.46pm (NZ time). To view the field, click here.