The NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series got off to a flying start on Saturday when St Germaine secured six points for her victory in the G2 Windsor Park Stud Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).

St Germaine (3f Keeper – Selenium by Straight Strike) followed the fence around the home bend which gave her a handy advantage as many of her competitors chose to go wide on the track rated slow.  She powered clear to defeat Eileen Dubh (Storm Creek) and Katie Lee (Pins).

The Windsor Park Stud Gold Trail Stakes is the first event in the ten-race Filly of the Year Series which culminates in the G1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 20 next year.

Last year’s Gold Trail saw high class fillies Juice, Daffodil, and Il Quello Veloce fill the first three places and Saturday’s winner looks as though she could be headed to similar heights.  She will now look to emulate fellow Keeper filly Insouciant by capturing the NZ Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas and the NZ Filly of the Year crown.

Trainer John Sargent has indicated that his charge will run at Te Rapa on October 26 in the lead-up to the Guineas on November 14.

St Germaine represents the Keeper cross over Raise a Native-Native Dancer line mares which has also produced last season’s G3 winning colt Millbank (ex Woodini, by Woodman).

The next race in the Series is the Listed Soliloquy Lodge Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie this Saturday, 26 September.