Top Fillies Set for Battle in the NZ Oaks

The final showdown in the NZB Filly of the Year Series - the coveted $300,000 Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks (2400m) - is set to run at Trentham this Saturday, with a cracking line-up of three-year-old fillies going to battle in the feature.

The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series has seen nine fantastic contests throughout the season, with many of the country's best fillies racing for over $1.2 million in stakes. The Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks is the final event in the Series, and will see most of the field heading into unknown territory as they prepare to race over the 2400 metre distance for the first time.

The last few weeks have seen the race's dynamics shift considerably with a few of the fillies lining up on Saturday putting in some strong performances.

Heading the field is the Jason Bridgman trained King's Rose (Redoute's Choice x Nureyev's Girl). Needing no introduction, she has raced her way to an unassailable lead in the Series with wins in the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas, Group 3 Eulogy Stakes, Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes and Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic. She will be looking for a big performance in the Oaks as she tries to confirm her position as the leading filly in New Zealand and will jump from Barrier 11 with Opie Bosson on board.

The Lance Noble trained Annie Higgins (O'Reilly x Diva Belle) has been racing in top form this season, and last week at Ellerslie her impressive ability was there for all to see as she claimed the Listed Mercedes-Benz Sunline Vase over 2100 metres.

Jockey Opie Bosson was very impressed with the run, saying that she had the race won a long way out. Her breeding suggests that she will run out every inch of the 2400 metres, and Bosson agrees. He will be on King's Rose on Saturday, but Annie Higgins looks to be a serious prospect on Saturday notwithstanding her 20 draw.

Lance Noble will also saddle Chaparral Lass (High Chaparral x Axislass) who was impressive in her last start win over 2000 metres. A last start winner, she is lightly tried but looks to have loads of ability and will have her supporters coming into the race as she jumps from the ace barrier.

The Group 3 Lowland Stakes at Hastings on March 5 saw Midnight Oil (Keeper x Gilded Light) take her first black-type win. The lightly tried filly won convincingly over the 2100 metres in testing conditions, putting herself right into Oaks contention. Trained by Paul Duncan, she is another whose breeding indicates that she should have little trouble in seeing out the 2400 metres and has the good barrier of 4 with jockey Rosie Myers.

Trainers Graeme & Debbie Rogerson will be represented by Dating (O'Reilly x Mandate) in the feature. The trainers have a very high opinion of the filly and her win in the Group 3 Desert Gold Stakes over 1600 metres was first class. She ran on well for fifth at her last start in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic after being checked at the 300 metre mark and looks well placed in the race with barrier 5 and Hayden Tinsley riding.  

The winning trainer of the Karaka Million, Lisa Latta, will be saddling up Zennista (Zenno Rob Roy x Zarnitsa) for the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks. Having finished in the first three in five of her nine starts, she has been a good competitor over the season and will be looking to improve on her last start fifth behind Midnight Oil in the Group 3 Lowland Stakes but has a tough draw of 22.

Latta will also have L'Amour (Towkay x Penthouse Blue) in the race who was also undone in the Lowland Stakes but was a winner at Manawatu on Boxing Day and has had three third placings from four outings since and has drawn better in 6.

Coming into the race in top form is the Arron Tata trained Savanah Rush (Savabeel x Rena Rush) who won the ZM Stayers (2100m) on a heavy track at Ellerslie with relative ease at her last start. She has put together back-to-back winning performances after winning easily over 2200 metres at Rotorua two starts back, and the 2400 metres looks to hold few problems as she is set to jump from barrier 10.

The form from the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic looks very strong with Annie Higgins and King's Rose coming from that field, but the performances from Blinding and Insurgent were also encouraging with a view to the Oaks.

The Dick and Chris Bothwell trained Blinding (Black Minnaloushe x Dazzling Walk) is already Group 1 placed after running second in the Levin Classic. She ran a strong race in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic after coming from well back in the field and widest on the turn. She was doing her best work late in the straight and is another that has good claims coming into the race in barrier 13 with Noel Harris on board.

The Roger James trained Insurgent (Ishiguru x Stella Attrice) had to fight for racing room in the straight in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic to avoid being boxed in on the rail, and ran a strong second finishing only a length from King's Rose. She jumps from barrier 8 and will be looking it to make two Group 1 wins in seven days for her trainer who trained The Party Stand to win the New Zealand Stakes on Saturday.

The consistent performer I Gotta Feeling (His Royal Highness x Cerprized Habit) is one of two John Wheeler trained runners in the feature. I Gotta Feeling ran a good race in the Lowland Stakes, leading from the 1600 metre mark and fighting on well for third when tackled at the 300 metres and jumps from 21. Wheeler also has Double Image (Stravinsky x A Goodlookin Broad) in the Oaks who was out of contention in the Lowland, but was a winner of her previous two in February and is also wide in 17.

Chennai (Towkay x Kanpur) ran a strong second last start to Annie Higgins in the Listed Sunline Vase for her trainer John Sargent. The filly also ran a good race in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic despite not getting all favours in transit and has been a solid performer this season. She has drawn the ideal alley of 9.

Run to the Bank (Bahhare x Rebus) will also line up in the Oaks for Stephen Marsh after her good performance running third in the Listed Sunline Vase at her last start and has drawn wide in 19.

The Kevin Hughes trained Classy Matter (Senor Pete x Things That Matter) has been racing in good form and comes into the race with a last start third over 2200 metres at Wingatui, and back-to-back wins in her two previous starts and jumps from 15.

The Jenny Scott trained Highly Delighted (Ekraar x Surprize Offer) comes into the race off a last start win at Hastings over 2100 metres and has drawn 16. The Gary Alton trained Mai Karamea (Istidaad x Love Song) is another who is in good form, winning or placing in each of her last four starts and jumps from the inside barrier 3, and Richard and Chris Otto will also have a runner in the Group 1 with Red Horizon (Spartacus x Guardian Miss) from gate 7.

The Francis Finnegan trained Lasswade (Johar x Danewhisper) will also contest the Oaks from gate 18 along with the well bred Dolmabache (Redoute's Choice x Our Echezeaux) from barrier 2 who is trained by Steven Ramsay & Julia Ritchie.

The winner of the $300,000 Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks will receive 12 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, with second taking seven points and third three-and-a-half points.

To view the current points table for the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, click here. The Group 1 feature at Trentham on Saturday is set for 4.29pm.