The Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) has attracted a capacity field at Riccarton on Saturday and the 22 starters will also be racing for points in the NZ Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series.
The Airfreight Stakes is the penultimate leg of the four race series which concludes with the Listed NZB Warstep Stakes at Riccarton on April 16.
The John Sargent trained No Choice (Coats Choice) currently leads the series with 7 points after her victory in the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes on March 12. She has a tough task attempting to earn maximum points again after drawing the outside barrier.
Last start winner I’m Your Venus (Show a Heart) has a strong course and distance record for her trainers Mandy and Matt Brown but she has also drawn very wide.
Michael Pitman has a strong hand in the race with stablemates Peace (Ishiguru), Aluminium Bikerack (Fantastic Light) and Miss Maximuss (Castledale).
Final Touch (Kashani) put in a powerful finish to win at Banks Peninsula last Saturday and will be looking to make it back-to-back victories as will Sylvie’s Dream (Danske) who is also coming off a good win at the same meeting.
Steve Anderton has two beautifully bred fillies engaged – The Glitzy One (Flying Spur) and The Solitaire (O’Reilly).
Andrew Scott saddles up She’s a Cougar (One Cool Cat) and Fireside (Thorn Park). The latter will be looking to recapture the form that saw her placed at Ellerslie’s Karaka Million meeting two starts back.
The Jason Bridgman trained last start winner Miss Thorn is another Thorn Park with winning claims.
Other fillies with winning from going into the race include Andromache (Charge Forward), Triple Threat (Savabeel), Hayley Rose (Floral Dynamite) and Kabuki (Shinko King).