Whimsical (NZ) Makes Filly of the Year Series Impact

With a powerful performance in Saturday’s $70,000 Group Three LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni, Whimsical (NZ) (Savabeel) moved straight up to third on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series table – and also hinted at even bigger and better things to come. 

Bought for $240,000 by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from Book 1 of Karaka 2019, Whimsical has now won two of her three starts and $44,200 in stakes for owners Dame Lowell Goddard and Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock.

With a victory in her first Filly of the Year Series appearance, Whimsical earned 6 points and has moved into a share of third place on the points table. Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma) leads with 15 points, while Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) is in second with 7 points. Miss Aotearoa (NZ) (Per Incanto) and De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man) are the others on 6 points.

A big, imposing daughter of Savabeel, Whimsical was a physical standout before the race, and she produced a performance to match.

After breaking well from the starting gate and taking an early lead, rider Johnathan Parkes was happy to settle in second place behind Love For All (Love Conquers All). Parkes oozed confidence approaching the home turn, looking over his shoulder to see how his rivals were travelling.

When Whimsical was given the green light by Parkes at the top of the straight, she bounded up alongside Love For All. That rival rose gamely to the challenge, and the pair drew clear of the rest of the field to fight out the finish. But Whimsical gradually gained the upper hand and edged away to win by three-quarters of a length.

“She’s a filly with a lot of potential who has just got better and better,” Todd Pollard, stable representative for Stephen Marsh, told NZ Racing Desk.

“She showed plenty when she had her first trial at Ellerslie back in July and has just kept going up a level at each outing.

“She is probably the biggest three-year-old filly we have in the stable and just looks like a stayer in the making, so we did think the 1600 metres today would be right up her alley.

“She has New Zealand Oaks (2400m) candidate written all over her, so I would think she will be on a path to that now – especially as her win today was in a leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year series.”

Love For All earned 3 points for her gallant second placing, while Signora Nera (NZ) (Sweynesse) ran on strongly into third to pick up 1.5 points.

The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series heads to Auckland for its next two legs, which will both be run during the Christmas Carnival at Ellerslie – the $100,000 Group Two Jamieson Park Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day, and the $100,000 Group Two Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (2000m) on New Year’s Day.

Vendor	Little Avondale Stud
Purchaser	Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) (Masterton)
Breeding	Savabeel – Chanel’s Choice
Sale	Lot 632, Karaka 2019 Book 1, $240,000
Bred by	M Everett, N J Hoar & J Jackson