Chicharita will be set for the NZ Oaks after storming to victory in the Group 2 NZ Bloodstock Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie.

The Royal Stakes was also the sixth leg of NZ Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series and the Matamata filly climbed into third place on that ladder behind Planet Rock and Testa Secret.

Chicharita (3f Towkay – Trisynd by Sir Tristram) had won a Pukekohe maiden in September and broke into the big league after claiming the Dunstan Feeds Championship Mile on December 7.

The Mike Moroney trained filly defeated Our Famous Eve (Fast ‘n’ Famous) and Joy’s Choice (Redoute’s Choice) in the Royal Stakes.  She is a homebred for Suncroft Bloodstock and is out of a Brisbane winner half-sister to the Lee Freedman trained millionaire Le Zagaletta (Last Tycoon).  

Chicharita is the 11th stakes winner for her sire Towkay who stands at Little Avondale Stud.  Connections indicated she will be aimed at the G1 New Zealand Oaks before a possible trip across the Tasman for the G1 Australian Oaks.

The NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series table can be viewed here:  www.nzb.co.nz/info/filly.cfm