The first five legs of the 2022-23 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series have been dominated by undefeated superstar Legarto (NZ) (Proisir), who has opened up a commanding lead with three outstanding wins culminating in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day. But things can change when the series becomes a late-season test of stamina, and that begins on New Year’s Day with the $140,000 Group Two Elsdon Park Royal Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa.
The first of five legs in the Filly of the Year Series to be staged over 2000 metres or further, the Royal Stakes is being bypassed by Legarto and is worth 8 points for first, with 4 for second and 2 for third.
Three runners in the Royal Stakes field already have NZB Filly of the Year Series points to their name, headed by Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended), who sits in third spot on the table with 6 points.
The Cambridge Stud homebred recorded a win and a placing from her first six starts, but she stepped into stakes class with an impressive win in the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on December 17.
Fourth spot on the table belongs to Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel), who announced her arrival in the NZB Filly of the Year Series with a big run for second to Legarto in the Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day and earned 4 points.
The other runner in the Royal Stakes field with points is Sophmaze (NZ) (Derryn), who collected 1.5 points with her third placing in the Eulogy Stakes earlier this month.
Of the other 11 runners in the field, Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) has been Group Three-placed and another eight have won races.
Although the Royal Stakes can give its winner a big boost to begin their climb up the NZB Filly of the Year Series standings, there will be no change of leader this week. Legarto towers over her rivals with 26 points, with Best Seller (NZ) (Wrote) a distant second on 13 and also absent from the Royal Stakes line-up.
The Elsdon Park Royal Stakes will be run as Race 5 at Te Rapa on Sunday, with a start time of 2:55pm.
