The 2024-25 NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series contenders have everything to play for over the next couple of weeks, beginning with Saturday’s $80,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.
The first two races were won by Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) and Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns), who have 7 points each but will not feature in either the NZB Airfreight Stakes or the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) on April 26. Those final two races of the series are each worth 7 points for first, 4 for second and 2 for third, which means the Southern Filly title is within anyone’s reach.
Among the most prominent title contenders in Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Stakes field are Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) and Lil Zena (NZ) (U S Navy), who earned 4 points each with second placings in the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) respectively.
They will be joined in Saturday’s line-up by Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who has 2 points after finishing third in the NZB Insurance Stakes. Loose Sally has since won the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m).
Other leading chances among Saturday’s big field include Connello (NZ) (Time Test), who finished second to the NZB Filly of the Year Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) in both the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
The NZB Airfreight Stakes will be run as Race 8 at Riccarton on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 3.52pm.
