This weekend will be a time of transition for the New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, with the 2021-22 winner Reputabelle (NZ) (Pins) honoured on Friday night before the next generation begin their quest for the title at Riccarton on Saturday.
Sponsored by NZB since the 2000-01 season, the Southern Filly of the Year Series is an important part of the southern racing calendar – designed to assist with the long-term growth and success of the New Zealand breeding industry by providing opportunities for good fillies to earn valuable blacktype.
The title is awarded to the three-year-old filly with the most points after the completion of the four races in the Series, with the trophy awarded to connections at the annual South Island Awards. The 2022-23 Southern Filly of the Year winner will also receive an insurance policy from NZB Insurance to the value of $50,000 + GST.
The first leg of the Series is Saturday’s $65,000 Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton, which has drawn a quality line-up of 14 fillies.
While some have already proven themselves at black-type level – with Diss Is Dramatic (NZ) (Dissident) being a Listed winner and I Choose You (I Am Invincible) a multiple Group Two placegetter – the build-up to Saturday’s race is set to be dominated by boom local filly Miss Take (NZ) (War Decree).
In her only start to date on Riccarton’s synthetic track on August 25, Miss Take scored a jaw-dropping win by nine and a half lengths. She is part-owned in Australia and her performance will be watched closely on both sides of the Tasman.
But the chances don’t end there, with the field also featuring five other winners, along with plenty of others held in high regard by their connections. Remarkably, Riccarton trainers Shane Kennedy and Anna Furlong have five fillies in the field.
The winner of the Canterbury Belle Stakes will receive 7 points, with 4 points for second and 2 for third.
The New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle Stakes will be run as Race 6 at Riccarton on Saturday, with a start time of 3:14pm - click here for the field and form.
