The Boxing Day races have been a mainstay on Auckland’s summer calendar for 160 years, but with Ellerslie undergoing a major track renovation, the iconic fixture is about to be staged by Pukekohe Park for the first time – which also marks the South Auckland track’s debut in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.
The star-studded programme usually held at Ellerslie on Boxing Day contains four black-type features, including the fifth leg of the prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series – the $150,000 Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m), which is worth a crucial 8 points for the winner, with 4 for second and 2 for third.
The venue may be different for the 2022 edition on Monday, but the Eight Carat Classic’s renowned quality is as strong as ever.
Top billing belongs to New Zealand’s undisputed leading filly of her generation so far, Legarto (NZ) (Proisir). The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained superstar has been a brilliant winner of all of her four starts, including the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), and she leads the NZB Filly of the Year Series with 18 points.
The other runner in the field with NZB Filly of the Year Series points already to her name is Librarsi (NZ) (Reliable Man), who earned 3 points with her last-start second placing in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on December 17.
Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) was a Group Three placegetter as a two-year-old last season, while Wessex (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) placed at Listed level in the early spring. Five other fillies in this well-credentialled field have been recent winners.
The Eight Carat Classic will be run as Race 6 at Pukekohe on Boxing Day, with a start time of 3.43pm.
