This Saturday’s G3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings launches the 39th annual NZ Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series.

The Series has been won by the likes of Katie Lee (Pins), Daffodil (No Excuse Needed), Insouciant (Keeper), Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago) and Justa Tad (Istidaad) in recent years.

King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice) joined that honour-roll in 2010-11 and she has gone right on with the job with two wins from two starts in Melbourne this season.

King’s Rose is from a sister to the dam of Gold Trail Stakes favourite Anabandana.  The Anabaa filly was Champion NZ 2YO last season when she was unbeaten in four starts.  The Don Sellwood trained filly had a hit out between races at Rotorua last week clocking 35.40 seconds for the last 600m of her gallop.  

Sellwood will also saddle up Pussy O’Reilly (O’Reilly) who is coming off a two-start juvenile campaign which included a victory over the John Sargent trained Orutan (Pins).

Trainer Kevin Gray will provide stiff competition for the Sellwood stablemates with Testa Secret (Testa Rossa) and Scarlet O’Hara (Fast ‘N’ Famous).

The NZ Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series consists of 10 events including the G1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, G2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic, G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic and G2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes before culminating with the G1 New Zealand Oaks.