Soliloquy Sees Eleven Chasing Filly Series Points
Soliloquy Sees Eleven Chasing NZB Filly Series Points
A field of 11 will contest the second race in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, the NZ$60,500 Listed Soliloquy Lodge Stakes (1400m), at Ellerslie on Saturday.
The Moore family's Karaka-based stud, Soliloquy Lodge, has picked up the sponsorship of the event, which is named after their foundation broodmare, Soliloquy (Sobig). During her racing career Soliloquy won 13 times including the Group 1 WRC Lion Brown Sprint, while as a broodmare she had 11 to race for nine winners including 1984-85 Filly of the Year Series winner Solveig (Imposing).
Saturday's field is headed by the Stephen McKee-trained Raid (Pins - Vanilla Sky by O' Reilly). She boasts a second placing in the Group 1 Ford Diamond Stakes and third placings in the Karaka Million and Group 2 Robin, Duke of Bedford Matamata Breeders Stakes. The talented grey has had nine starts for one win, three seconds and two thirds and NZ$142,925 in prizemoney. Herbie Dyke, who was recently recognised at the Mercedes Racing Awards for his Contribution to Racing, purchased her at the 2007 Karaka Premier Sale for NZ$250,000 from Waikato Stud.
Trainer and part-owner Don Dwyer is represented by Annie (Ustinov - Blanche Amelia by Grosvenor). She's a half-sister to Group 3 Newcastle Gold Cup winner for Gai Waterhouse, Bianca (Painted Black). Breaking maiden ranks in her last start at Avondale over 1200m, she looks better suited to the Soliloquy's 1400m.
Mike and Paul Moroney's runner Shock (Keeper - Severe by Keen) recorded her first win at Matamata three starts ago and went on to run fourth in the Listed Stars Sports Tours & Events Ryder Stakes to Keeper Special, and third in the Listed Wanganui Race Horse Owners Fillies Stakes Listed Race to Keeper Special and Daffodil.
The training trio of Graeme Rogerson, Scott Lucock & Roydon Bergerson have Awesome Planet (Giant's Causeway - Dance On The Moon by Fasliyev) jumping from barrier one under Opie Bosson. She ran third in her first start to Vincent Mangano and four starts ago ran second to Siem Reap. The step up in distance should suit her.
Sub Prime (Van Nistelrooy - Dubai Century by Military Plume) will be having her third start after winning by one and a half lengths on debut in Taupo in August. She's trained by Jim Collett and raced out of her class in a rating 80 in her last start to finish sixth to Al Qurhah.
Alberton Princess (Golan - Straussbridge by Straussbrook), from Richard Yuill's Pukekohe stable is yet to win a race but has had six starts for two seconds and three thirds including third in the Group 3 Ford 2YO Classic. Stablemate Karloushe (Black Minnaloushe - Karsavina by Western Symphony) will also take the line. She's won two trials and was fourth in her fresh up run at Paeroa to Alegrio last week.
Roger James & Paul Mirabelli are backing up their filly Glamorous Girl (Thorn Park - J'Lo by Unbridled's Song) after a creditable last start fourth in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes in Association with Hutchinsons at Hastings last Saturday. It was her first start back after a winter break, with Andrew Calder retaining the ride.
Rounding off the field is Fastnfree (Shinko King - Flying Free by Heroicity) for Bill Pomare, Mercury Lady (O'Reilly - Enlighten by Masterclass) for Lance Noble and Lady Power (Thorn Park - Flying Features by Flying Spur) for Graeme and Mark Sanders.
The current Series leader is Juice (Bertolini) on six points with Daffodil (No Excuse Needed) on three and Il Quello Veloce (Captain Rio) on 1.5. Being a Listed race, the Soliloquy Lodge Stakes will carry four points for first, two for second and one for third.
Click here for more information on the NZB Filly of the Year Series.
ENDS