The next two Saturdays are set to make all the difference in the 2022-23 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, with the all-important final two legs being staged in quick succession at Riccarton Park – starting with this weekend’s $65,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m).
The first and second legs of the series – the Listed Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and the Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) – had different fillies filling all of the placings, creating a logjam on the points table.
Canterbury Belle Stakes winner One Kiss (NZ) (Tivaci) and NZB Insurance Stakes winner Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) share top spot with 7 points each. Perfectly Suited (NZ) (Savile Row) and Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star) have 4 points apiece, while Kikimora (NZ) (Shamexpress) and Miss Dunsford (Dissident) have each picked up 2 points.
Like each of the other three legs of the series, this Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Stakes is worth 7 points for the winner, with 4 for second and 2 for third.
NZB Insurance Stakes placegetters Betty Spaghetti and Miss Dunsford are both back this weekend, giving them the opportunity to move to the top of the points table with a victory.
But Saturday’s field also features a number of newcomers to the series, many of whom bring strong credentials.
The blue-blooded Luella Cristina is by Snitzel out of the multiple Group One winner Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel), and the Stephen Marsh-trained filly lived up to that family reputation with a last-start third placing in the Group One Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham.
Family Ties (NZ) (Contributer) ventures down from the North Island with a Listed victory under her belt, while Maryweka (NZ) (Time Test), Stolen Decree (NZ) (War Decree), Derryaire (NZ) (Derryn) and (NZ) (Burgundy) were all impressive last-start winners.
The NZB Airfreight Stakes will be run as Race 6 at Riccarton Park on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 3.07pm.
