Tonic Wins Southern Filly Title After Tehama's Success In Warstep Stakes

The Canterbury Jockey Club hosted the final race of the 2002-03 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series on Saturday with the running of the New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (Listed, 2000m) which saw success for the connections of two fillies in the field.

Tehama (Centaine x Eminent Walk) secured her first win for owners Peter and Philip Vela, and Tonic (Blues Traveller x Sent to War), who finished fifth in Saturday's race, secured the notable title of 2002-03 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year.

On easy track conditions Tehama, trained by Matamata's Mark Walker, won by ¾ length over Paul O'Sullivan trained Olgavich (Maroof x Olga's Pal), with Kizkardes (Hadaad x Political Economy), trained by Ross Beckett, a further 3 ½ lengths back in third position.

Tehama's win on Saturday gave her 7 points on the Southern Filly of the Year points table, not enough to take the title from Tonic who gained her 14 points in the Series after winning the New Zealand Bloodstock Airfreight Stakes in February and the New Zealand Bloodstock Leasing Stakes earlier this month.

Finishing as runner up in the Series with 10 points is the Michael Pitman and Chris Harris trained filly Royal Show (Deputy Governor x Bluebird Dancer). Although she did not perform to her best on Saturday, in late March Royal Show won the New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Stakes and ran home strongly for second behind Tonic in the New Zealand Bloodstock Leasing Stakes earlier this month.

After Saturday's win Tehama placed third equal in the Series with Flying Coup (Tuscany Flyer x Blue Blarney) who won the first race in the Series the New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes.

The 2002-03 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year, Tonic, is trained by Riccarton's Peter and Dawn Williams and owned by Delahunty Farm's Tim Ryan and his brother Paul. The Ryan brothers purchased Tonic at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2001 Select Fillies Sale for $40,000.

Peter and Dawn Williams were runners up in last year's Southern Filly of the Year Series with Critic, who just missed winning the title with 11 points, three points short of the John and Karen Parsons trained filly, Pledge, who like Tonic finished the Series with 14 points.

The final points table for the 2002-03 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year is as follows

Tonic 14
Royal Show 10
Flying Coup 7
Tehama 7
Irish Belle 3
Magic Bow 3
Mighty Myrtle 3
Olgavich 3
Cat Shmea 1
Kizkardes 1
Rayonner 1
Smiling Asset 1
The Jewel 1

Tonic joins the list of talented fillies to win the title including the 2001-02 winner Pledge and the 2000-01 winner Besty Coup.

New Zealand Bloodstock would like to thank the connections of all fillies that participated in the series to congratulate the connections of Tonic for her success in winning the prestigious title of 2002-03 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year.

A presentation for the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Title will be made at the annual South Island Racing Awards later this year.

For further information please contact Taryn Bax at New Zealand Bloodstock.
Ph: (09) 298 0055, Fax: (09) 298 0506, Email: taryn@nzb.co.nz or see the New Zealand Bloodstock website www.nzb.co.nz