Victorious Vavasour Shoots Up Fillies Series Leaderboard

Promising filly Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice) has put herself firmly in contention for the New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series crown after her victory in the $100,000 Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Vavasour (NZ) victorious in the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

Owners Chris & Sarah Green and Ger Beemsterboer and trainers Peter & Dawn Williams are no stranger to Filly of the Year Series glory, having won with Planet Rock in 2012.

The win was Vavasour’s first at stakes level, earning her 8 points in the 10-race Filly Series and putting her in third spot on the leaderboard with three races to go. She had previously collected 4 points after running second to rival Saavoya (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes.

The daughter of Redoute’s Choice has had a total of eight raceday starts, placing in all six races this season, including three wins.

“It was a great run, very gutsy,” commented co-trainer Dawn Williams. “She is a big strong filly and she really dug deep. We are very pleased with her effort.”

Starting from barrier 6, Vavasour went to the lead in the early stages of the race with rider Leith Innes on board. Charmont (High Chaparral) kept a close tab on Vavasour throughout the race, sitting just three-quarters-of-a-length off her.

It looked as though Charmont headed Vavasour early in the straight but the race-favourite kicked strongly to regain the front. Saavoya, current leader in the Filly of the Year Series, had the last challenge but as she approached Vavasour kicked again to win by three-quarters of a length, with Saavoya in second place and Charmont finishing in third.

“She [Vavasour] has pulled up really well but we are still deciding whether to take her to the Derby or the Oaks in New Zealand. We would prefer to go to the Derby and then on to the Australian Oaks in Sydney,” said Williams.

Vavasour was purchased by co-owner Ger Beemsterboer for $425,000 at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale from Haunui Farm.

Bred by Garry Cranny, Frantic Bloodstock Ltd & Haunui Bloodstock Ltd, Vavasour is out of stakes-winning mare Valpolicella (Red Ransom), winner of the Group 3 Manawatu Classic. She is a half-sister stakes performer Catalonia – Vilanova (Commands), winner of the Group 2 Autumn Classic.

Race 7 of the Series saw Saavoya claim the lead yet again, now totalling 20 points over Platinum Witness (California Dane) who is in second position on 18 points.

The next race in the Series will be the Group 3 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes on 28 February at Hawke’s Bay Racing Club.

To view the NZB Filly of the Year Leaderboard, click here.