Racing at Awapuni this weekend will see the staging of the fourth leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series in the G3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and the field is stacked with talented fillies.
NZ Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series has seen some exciting contests from the opening three races of the Series with Anabandana cruising to victory in the G3 Gold Trail Stakes, Holy Moly taking the Listed Soliloquy Lodge Stakes, and current Series leader Planet Rock (on 12 points) winning the G1 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas in a great finish. None of these three line up on Saturday giving ample chance for other fillies to advance up the leaderboard.
Saturday’s contest will see trainers Graeme & Debbie Rogerson line up three runners including the smart (NZ) filly Dowager Queen (Sabaveel). She comes into the race after a strong spring preparation which saw her win the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes in New Zealand before an Australian campaign that concluded with a brave second in the G1 VRC Oaks (2500m). With Darryl Bradley aboard she’s a big chance to get her first points in the Series.
From the same yard, Abeautifulred (Handsome Ransom) could not have been more impressive at her last start second to Planet Rock in the G1 NZ Bloodstock 1000 Guineas. She currently holds second place in the Filly of the Year Series with seven points and a win on Saturday – providing six points – would give her the Series lead.
The third of the Rogerson runners is the (NZ) blueblood filly Joy’s Choice (Redoute’s Choice), one of two runners in the Cambridge Stud colours. A half-sister to the G2 winner La Sizeranne (Stravinsky), she is in good form having won two of her last three starts coming into Saturday’s race.
Lisa Latta will saddle up Capital Diamond (Lucky Unicorn x Diamond Smile) who will also carry the Cambridge Stud colours. A grand-daughter of the G1 winner Diamond Lover, she comes into the race with three third placings in a row, the last coming in the G1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas.
The Kevin Gray trained Testa Secret (Testa Rossa) has been a model of consistency on the track taking two wins and three placings from her six starts. She ran second to Dowager Queen fresh up this season in the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies Stakes before running second to Anabandana in the G2 Gold Trail Stakes.
The Jason Bridgman trained Kindred (Pins) and Zurella (Zabeel) from Shaune Ritchie’s stable are two fillies that look very much on the up. The sire of 43 stakes winners, Pins will also be represented by the Anne Herbert trained Trendy who has won two of her five starts.
The winner of the $70,000 G3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m) will take 6 points in New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series, with second place taking 3 points and third 1.5 points.
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