Sunline Vase the Next Stop in New-Look NZB Filly of the Year Series

The prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series heads in a new direction on Saturday with the running of the second leg, the $150,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie.

The Sunline Vase has previously been run over 2100m in March as the 10th leg of the 11-race series, helping to set fillies up for the grand finale in the $1m Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m). That has all changed in 2025-26.

The New Zealand Oaks has been moved forward from late March to February and will this year be run at Ellerslie. This new position in the calendar, two weeks before the $1.25m Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same venue, allows the country’s elite staying fillies to contest both of those coveted classics.

The Oaks still carries the same potentially decisive NZB Filly of the Year Series points as previous seasons – 12 for first, 7 for second and 3.5 for third – but its new position in the calendar has brought changes to the series schedule. The Sunline Vase has been moved into the spring and reduced to 1400m, while the Group Two Lowland Stakes (2100m) will remain as an Oaks lead-up but has been moved from March to 31 January.

Below is the new itinerary for the NZB Filly of the Year Series:

Date	Race Name	Stake	Dist.	Venue
6 September	Gr.3 HB/PB Thoroughbred Breeders Assn Gold Trail Stakes	$150,000	1200m	Ellerslie
20 September	Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase	$150,000	1400m	Ellerslie
18 October	Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes	$175,000	1400m	Ellerslie
8 November	Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas	$600,000	1600m	Riccarton
20 December	Gr.3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes	$100,000	1600m	Awapuni
26 December	Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic	$270,000	1600m	Ellerslie
1 January	Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes	$270,000	2000m	Ellerslie
17 January	Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes	$200,000	1600m	Trentham
31 January	Gr.2 Lowland Stakes	$150,000	2100m	Trentham
7 February	Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic	$275,000	2000m	Te Rapa
21 February	Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks	$1,000,000	2400m	Ellerslie

 

A spring Sunline Vase is something new, but it is shaping up to be a fascinating clash between some of the leading contenders for the $600,000 Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in Christchurch in November.

The line-up is headed by Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca), who tops the Filly of the Year Series table with 6 points after scoring a stunning come-from-nowhere win in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago.

Among her opposition is Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma), the only other New Zealand three-year-old to win at Group level so far this season. She produced a potent finish from last to take out the Group Three Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka in August in her most recent appearance.

Gold Trail Stakes third placegetter Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy) is also in the line-up, along with last season’s stakes-winning juveniles Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Little Black Dress (Snitzel). Lady Iris (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Abbakiss (Microphone) have both placed at black-type level.

Like the Gold Trail earlier this month, the Sunline Vase is worth 6 points to the winner, 3 for second and 1.5 for third. Lollapalooza tops the standings with her 6 points, with In Haste (Snitzel) second on 3 points and Queen’s Evidence third with 1.5.

The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase will be run as Race 8 at Ellerslie on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 4pm.
 

$150,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) Field:

 

#	HORSE	DRAW	COMMENTS	SALE	PURCHASER
1	Lollapalooza	10	An early challenge has been thrown down to the filly class of 2025-26 by Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca), who soared to the top of the NZB Filly of the Year Series standings with her stunning come-from-behind victory in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie two weeks ago. Based on her racing style and the opinion of her trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, increasing distances should only help the exciting El Roca filly. She has 6 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series.	Karaka 2024, Book 2	Richardson Racing Stables/Social Racing, $30,000
2	Tajana	7	The Oaks Stud's homebred filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was a Group One placegetter in last season's Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m), and she began her three-year-old season in style with a strong-finishing win in the Group Three Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka last month. She is another filly who is expected to benefit from stepping up in trip.
3	Little Black Dress	1	Little Black Dress (NZ) (Snitzel) had a perfect two-from-two season as a two-year-old last season, culminating in black-type success in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie in April. She has been close up in both starts so far this spring including a sixth in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1600m) on September 6.
4	Queen's Evidence	8	Te Akau filly Queen's Evidence (NZ) (King's Legacy) showed potential in a three-start campaign as a juvenile, winning on debut before finishing fourth in the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) and second in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m). She resumed in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) earlier this month and took several steps up with a big run for third. She has 1.5 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series.	Karaka 2024, Book 1	DC Ellis, $220,000
5	Too Sweet	4	Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) has already tasted black-type success at Ellerslie, having taken out the Group Two Eclipse Stakes (1200m) there as a two-year-old in January. She was plagued by wide draws and bad luck through the remainder of her juvenile campaign. The Manawatu visitor caught the eye with a close fourth in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in her first appearance of the new season.	Karaka 2024, Book 2	Chris Rutten Bloodstock, $50,000
6	Lady Iris	3	The Stephen Marsh-trained Lady Iris (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) was a smart winner on debut at Matamata in March and has been super-consistent in strong company ever since. She ran second in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) and fifth in the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1200m) in her other two starts as a two-year-old, then resumed with a fifth at Taupo in August. Her last start was against male three-year-olds in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie on September 6, where she finished a bold third and only a length and a half from the winner.
7	Abbakiss	6	Abbakiss (Microphone) recorded a win and three placings from her five races last season, with her only time out of the first three being a close and highly creditable sixth in the $1m TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m). She resumed in a strong three-year-old fillies' race at Taupo last month and was not far away when finishing sixth.	Karaka 2024, Book 1	Raumai Bloodstock Ltd, $60,000
8	Tale Of The Gypsy	11	Tale Of The Gypsy (NZ) (Written By) was bought for $180,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2024. She was a slick maiden winner at Te Aroha in January, then ran fourth at Ellerslie, fifth in the Group Two Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) and fourth in the Group One Sistema Stakes (1200m). She made her season debut in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m), where she had a tough wide run and finished ninth.	Karaka 2024, Book 1	Stephen Marsh Racing/Dylan Johnson Bloodstock, $180,000
9	Eliza James	12	War Decree filly Eliza James (NZ) has shown bright talent in her five-race career, including a dominant win by two and a quarter lengths at Riccarton last spring. She finished fifth in last month's Group Three Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) despite drifting to the extreme outside of the home straight, then was unplaced but only five lengths from the winner in an 1100m sprint against older horses at Ellerslie two weeks ago.
10	Prosper	9	Prosper (NZ) (Ferrando) produced a big performance to win on debut on the Cambridge synthetic track in July, overcoming a slow start and charging home to score over just 970m. She has lined up in two races at Ruakaka since then, finishing fourth over 1100m and then sixth in the Group Three Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m).
11	Unrestrained	5	Bought for only $4,000 from the 2023 National Weanling Sale, Unrestrained (NZ) (Time Test) has had one start for a promising second placing over 1200m at Ruakaka on September 3. She is a granddaughter of the Group One Auckland Cup (3200m) winner Royal Tiara (NZ) (Blanco).	2023 National Weanling Sale	Kakapo Lodge, $4,000
12	Mizzette	2	Blue-blooded filly Mizzette is by Wootton Bassett and is the first foal out of the Group One Canterbury Stakes (1300m) winner Mizzy (Zoustar). From the respected stable of Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Mizzette has had one start for a late-finishing fifth over 1200m at Te Rapa last month.