A fresh batch of three-year-old fillies will duel for first points in NZ Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series in the LR Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) this Saturday at Ellerslie.
Bounding (Lonhro) took an early lead when the 10-race s Series kicked off in the G3 Gold Trail Stakes last weekend.
The Listed Soliloquy Stakes has attracted a field of 13 promising fillies headed by Girl of My Dreams (Gold Centre). The Leo Molloy trained filly is the only multiple winner in the field and was last seen running third in the LR Wanganui Guineas.
Spellbinder (O’Reilly) was an impressive winner on debut at Taupo and she is one of two representatives for Jason Bridgman. Another Karaka graduate Ruthless Lady (Keeper) also runs for the Te Akau Racing team. This will be her second attempt at stakes level having contested the LR Wanganui Guineas at her last start.
Avondale juvenile winner Beck and Call (Iffraaj) will be saddled up by Bruce Wallace trained Beca winner as two-year-old at Avondale. The Karaka Select Sale graduate was caught wide at her only other start in the LR Challenge Stakes at Ruakaka in behind El Roca.
Gary Alton has the consistent Designated Driver (Danroad) engaged. She hasn’t been out of the placings in three starts and ran second at her at her latest appearance at Te Rapa.
Karaka Select Sale graduate Matauri Bay (Al Maher) was narrowly beaten at her only start when going down by a nose at Te Rapa earlier this month. The Lance Noble trained filly has drawn wide for rider Mark Hills but that may not be a disadvantage with a heavy track likely.
Another filly having her second start is Emmuska (Sir Percy) for trainer Shaun Clotworthy. The Karaka graduate is fresh from a spell having debuted as a two-year-old when finishing fifth in a strong form race at Ruakaka and has had two trials to get fit for Saturday’s race.
Roger James appears to have a strong hand in the raceswith a two-pronged attack. His first runner, the Karaka graduate Lady Cumquat (Duke of Marmalade) is having her second start after finishing third on debut at Te Rapa.
The Cambridge trainer’s other runner is the well-bred Miss Foxwood (Fastnet Rock). She has had two starts, placing third on debut as a two-year-old and beaten half-a-length when running fourth earlier this month.
Trainers Donna & Dean Logan have two runners led by Karaka Premier graduate Big Voices (Duke of Marmalade) who has picked up a cheque in all four starts. The Logans have also entered Thornbird Lass (Thorn Park).
Cambridge trainer Stephen Marsh has Zanotti (Strategic Image) engaged for Go Racing Syndicator Albert Bosma. The filly has only had three starts, placing twice and running on late when unplaced in the LR Ryder Stakes as a two-year-old.
Another Cambridge based runner is Rosado (Any Suggestion) for young trainer Lisa O’Shea. She is fresh up from a two-year-old campaign that included two placings and has been a winner at the trials in preparation for her seasonal return.
The winner of the LR Allied Workforce Soliloquy Stakes will receive 4 points in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, with second earning 2 points and third 1 point. The next race in the Series will be the G1 NZ Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas where 12 points will be up for grabs for the winner.
View the leader-board and 10-race schedule for the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series at:
http://nzb.co.nz/info/filly.cfm