Filly Series Hots Up with NZB One Thousand Guinea

Filly Series Hots Up with NZB One Thousand Guineas

All eyes turn to Riccarton Park this Saturday with the running of the coveted three-year-old filly race, the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas (1600m).

A talented field of sixteen is set to vie for the $275,000 purse in this the third leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

Heading the list of contenders is current Filly of the Year Series leader, Naturo (Postponed x Rubiton's Best) from John Sargent's Matamata stable. The Group 3 Highview Stakes (1200m) winner currently sits on six points, two ahead of Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) winner, Imananabaa (Anabaa x Iman) who beat Naturo into second place at their last start in the Listed James & Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa.

With three wins from seven starts Imananabaa is also making the trip South. Trained by Jim Gibbs, Imananabaa will be joined by regally bred stable-mate Velvet and Satin (Carnegie x Romanee Conti) who was stakes placed in the Listed NZB Soliloquy Stakes two starts ago.

In addition to Naturo, Stoneybridge sire, Postponed, is also represented by the Peter and Nancy Izatt owned and bred Dorabella (Postponed x Caserio). Yet to finish out of the money in her four career starts, the Howie and Lorraine Matthews trained filly currently leads the Southern Filly of the Year Series after her recent win in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m).

Mark Walker, trainer of last year's Filly of the Year Series winner, Shikoba (Chief Bearhart x Summary), has one runner in the race, Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road). Set to be ridden by Michael Walker, Princess Coup lines up unbeaten from her last four starts this season including successive Listed victories.

Looking to replicate the One Thousand Guineas, New Zealand Oaks and Filly of the Year winning deeds of her full sister, Justa Tad, will be A Tad Black (Istidaad x Infinity). Trained by Rudy and Megan Liefting her last start resulted in the filly narrowly defeating Velvet and Satin at Te Rapa.

Of the 16 starters, 13 are Northern raiders with the only Riccarton trained filly being Udiditagain (D'Cash x Tip Iris) for Kevin Hughes. Also from the Southern contingent is Mary Lavelle (O'Reilly x Trisha's Belle), a Listed winner as a two-year-old, with a second placing from her first outing this season, she is trained by Neill Ridley at Burnham for Grange Farm's Keith Neylon.

Rounding off the field is last start winner Miracle Miss (O'Reilly x Mandate) ridden by Lisa Cropp for trainer Guy Lowry, plus Beautiful Girl (Black Minnaloushe x Picadilly Lily), Do Me A Favour (Howbaddouwantit x Boonoke), Eclectic Heights (Keeper x Marla Heights), Halobelle (My Halo x Nassibelle), Miss Montjeu (Montjeu x Mer du Sud), Seven Hills (City on a Hill x Cimarosa) and Taatyana (Faltaat x Clear Advantage).

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