Featuring on Barfoot & Thompson's Auckland Cup Day is the second-to-last leg of NZB's Filly of the Year Series with the Group 3 $70,000 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie Racecourse on Wednesday.
A strong field of nine fillies are lined up to run in the ninth race of the 10-race Series. The winning filly will receive 6 points, second place will receive 3 points and third place earns 1.5 points.
Saavoya (NZ) (Savabeel) has been bumped from leading the Series to runner-up on 20 points, just two-and-a-half points away from Platinum Witness (California Dane), who now leads on 22.5 points, while Vavasour (NZ) (Redoute's Choice) remains in third position on 12 points.
Looking to claim back the lead on Wednesday is Saavoya, winner of the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes and the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic. The Savabeel filly ran second at her last start in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic. Continuing her association with jockey Craig Grylls, she will start from barrier 3 for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
A second runner for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman is Charmont (High Chaparral), who currently has four points in the Series after running third in the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes and the Group 2 Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic. Opie Bosson will start Charmont from barrier 1.
Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) (Mastercraftsman) was a last start winner, beating Saturday's Group 3 Lowland Stakes winner Savaria (NZ) (Savabeel) over 1800m. Winning three of her eight starts, the Mastercraftsman filly will begin from barrier 5 with Danielle Johnson riding for Stephen Marsh.
From Leo Molloy's Byerley Park stable is Consensus (NZ) (Postponed), who finished fifth behind Thee Auld Floozie after being held up in the straight. The Postponed filly won two races as a two-year-old and ran fifth in her first step up to staying distance in the Group 2 NZB Royal Stakes. Rosie Myers will ride Consensus from barrier 7.
Palace Rock (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) will attempt to earn further points in the Series, after earning 1.5 points in the Group 3 Eulogy Stakes. Trained by Peter and Dawn Williams, another runner from Byerley Park, she has been unlucky in her last three starts in the Series and will be looking to improve with Leith Innes taking the ride from barrier 9.
Fresh-up will be Vive La Difference (Choisir), resuming from a five-week spell after her fourth place in the Group 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes. Matthew Cameron will ride the Choisir filly in her first try at a staying distance from barrier 4 for trainer Jason Bridgman.
Breaking maiden status last start was Gin Swing (NZ) (Keeper) from Tony Pike's stable in Cambridge. With the just five starts, the Keeper filly looks to be improving with each start and will be trying her hand at a stayer's distance with Michael McNab from barrier 8.
Another runner for Stephen Marsh is the Align filly Stars In Align (NZ) (Align), who saw her first win two starts ago at 1950m. Mark Du Plessis will ride Stars In Align from barrier 2.
Still a maiden is Aotearower (NZ) (Shamardal), who will be looking to go one better after running second in her last three starts. Ridden by Rory Hutchings, Aotearower will start from barrier 6 for trainers Ken and Bev Kelso.
To view the full field, click here.
