Title Contenders to Make Their Moves in Fillies’ Classic
5 February 2026
In contrast to the runaway dominance of Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) last season, the 2025-26 edition of the NZB Filly of the Year Series still has any number of possible outcomes heading into the final two legs – starting with Saturday’s $275,000 Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2100m) at Te Rapa.
Leica Lucy won the title last year with 40 points, but this year’s leaders Well Written (Written Tycoon) and Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca) have half that amount with 20 and will play no further part in the series.
All of the action is happening just below that pair on the leaderboard, and Saturday’s big race at Te Rapa will cause even more movement in that section of the table.
The Fillies’ Classic is worth 8 points for first, 4 for second and 2 for third, allowing the winner to move closer to the leaders as we head into the all-important Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Ellerslie on February 21. That series-ending classic carries 12 points for first, 7 for second and 3.5 for third.
The runners in the Fillies’ Classic field with points to their name are Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) with 8, Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) with 8, Fairy Dream (NZ) (Proisir) with 6 and Born To Be Royal (King’s Legacy) with 2. Any of those fillies will claim the Filly of the Year title if they win both the Fillies’ Classic and the Oaks.
But Saturday’s chances don’t end with that quartet. Chilling Out (NZ) (Savabeel) scored two stylish victories in a row before finishing strongly for fifth in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) two weeks ago, Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) has won her last two starts in impressive fashion, and numerous others have shown glimpses of real quality in their short careers to date.
The David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic will be run as Race 7 at Te Rapa on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 4.03pm.
| # | HORSE | DRAW | COMMENTS | SALE | PURCHASER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tajana | 7 | The Oaks Stud's homebred filly Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma) was a Group One performer at two, and she made an outstanding start to the season with victories in the Group Three Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m) and Group Three Sunline Vase (1400m) in her first two starts. She then ran third in the Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) before being tripped up by a heavy track when unplaced in the Group One New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) in November. Tajana's only start since then produced a victory over 1600 metres at Pukekohe on January 18. Tajana has 8 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. | ||
| 2 | Ohope Wins | 11 | Major international players Yulong bought into superstar filly Well Written (Written Tycoon) leading into her victory in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in the spring, and now they have got on board with another exciting talent. Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) burst into Oaks contention with her highly impressive last-start success in the Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie, earning 8 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series in the process. | ||
| 3 | Chilling Out | 10 | Savabeel filly Chilling Out (NZ) was a $375,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2024. She was a strong-finishing third over 1230 metres on debut in December, then made a big impression with back-to-back victories over 1400 and 1500 metres. In her only start since then, she produced an eye-catching late run into fifth in the $1.5m TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m). The step up in distance this weekend looks ideal. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Michael Otto Bloodstock, $375,000 |
| 4 | Fairy Dream | 3 | Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood paid $360,000 to purchase Fairy Dream (NZ) (Proisir) from Book 1 of Karaka 2024. She has wasted little time in making that purchase look well worthwhile. Her four-start career has produced two impressive wins, including a classy last-start success in the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) that earned her 6 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | RA James/R Wellwood, $360,000 |
| 5 | Single Red | 8 | Single Red (NZ) (Vanbrugh) was bred by Ben Kwok, who shares ownership with OTI Racing after she was passed in during Book 1 of Karaka 2024. An encouraging fourth over 1400 metres on debut on January 2, Single Red has put together strong back-to-back victories over 1400 and 1650 metres in two subsequent starts. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | Psd, Res $60,000 |
| 6 | Born To Be Royal | 2 | Bought for $260,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2024 by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, Born To Be Royal (King's Legacy) has been a Group Two placegetter at the ages of both two and three. She finished third in the Matamata Breeders' Stakes (1200m) last season, then was third again in the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) on New Year's Day. She has had eight starts overall for a win and five placings, and she has earned 2 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series. | Karaka 2024, Book 1 | DC Ellis, $260,000 |
| 7 | Circus Trix | 12 | John Wood's homebred filly Circus Trix (NZ) (Circus Maximus) was a maiden winner over 1200 metres at Pukekohe in October, and she has had mixed fortunes in black-type company. She finished ninth in the Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and fourth in the Listed O'Learys Fillies' Stakes (1340m), then hung out badly in the straight when finishing at the tail of the field in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m). She ran a much improved race last start for a late-finishing fifth in the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m). | ||
| 8 | Oratia Beauty | 6 | Oratia Beauty (Too Darn Hot) has been a model of consistency and has yet to finish further back than sixth in her eight-race career. She recorded a second and a fourth in her first two starts, then beat subsequent Group Two Hawke's Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Magic Carpet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) to win a maiden race at Taupo. Since then she has finished sixth in the Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), third in a 1400-metre race at Ellerslie, second in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500m), sixth in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and sixth in the Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m). | ||
| 9 | Savvy Donna | 1 | Ray Fleming's homebred filly Savvy Donna (NZ) (Savabeel) produced an eye-catching performance as a lightly raced maiden in the spring, finishing strongly for fourth in the Group Two Soliloquy Stakes (1400m). She was unplaced in the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) in her next two starts, but bounced back to form with a last-start maiden success over 1600 metres at Matamata. | ||
| 10 | Autumn Glory | 5 | Racing in the colours of owner-breeders Monovale Holdings, Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) won in good style over 1400 metres on debut at Ruakaka on January 6. Her only other start was in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) on January 24, where she struck an unsuitable Heavy10 track at New Plymouth and finished seventh. | ||
| 11 | Fly Zenno | 4 | Fly Zenno (NZ) (Ancient Spirit) was a $30,000 purchase from Book 2 of Karaka 2024. She has had only four starts so far, including a second placing over 1600 metres at Ellerslie in December and a last-start fifth in the Group Two Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m). | Karaka 2024, Book 2 | Kawa Park, $30,000 |
| 12 | Unbounded | 9 | Bought for $14,500 from Book 2 of Karaka 2024, Unbounded (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) has already earned $13,645 after placing in three of her five starts to date. The most recent of those was a strong-finishing third in the Listed Oaks Prelude (1800m) on January 24. | Karaka 2024, Book 2 | Natalie Milligan, $14,500 |