The prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series heads in a new direction on Saturday with the running of the second leg, the $150,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (1400m) at Ellerslie.
The Sunline Vase has previously been run over 2100m in March as the 10th leg of the 11-race series, helping to set fillies up for the grand finale in the $1m Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m). That has all changed in 2025-26.
The New Zealand Oaks has been moved forward from late March to February and will this year be run at Ellerslie. This new position in the calendar, two weeks before the $1.25m Group One New Zealand Derby (2400m) at the same venue, allows the country’s elite staying fillies to contest both of those coveted classics.
The Oaks still carries the same potentially decisive NZB Filly of the Year Series points as previous seasons – 12 for first, 7 for second and 3.5 for third – but its new position in the calendar has brought changes to the series schedule. The Sunline Vase has been moved into the spring and reduced to 1400m, while the Group Two Lowland Stakes (2100m) will remain as an Oaks lead-up but has been moved from March to 31 January.
Below is the new itinerary for the NZB Filly of the Year Series:
| Date | Race Name | Stake | Dist. | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 September | Gr.3 HB/PB Thoroughbred Breeders Assn Gold Trail Stakes | $150,000 | 1200m | Ellerslie |
| 20 September | Gr.3 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase | $150,000 | 1400m | Ellerslie |
| 18 October | Gr.2 Windsor Park Stud Soliloquy Stakes | $175,000 | 1400m | Ellerslie |
| 8 November | Gr.1 Barneswood Farm 53rd New Zealand 1000 Guineas | $600,000 | 1600m | Riccarton |
| 20 December | Gr.3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes | $100,000 | 1600m | Awapuni |
| 26 December | Gr.2 Hallmark Stud Eight Carat Classic | $270,000 | 1600m | Ellerslie |
| 1 January | Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes | $270,000 | 2000m | Ellerslie |
| 17 January | Gr.3 NZB Desert Gold Stakes | $200,000 | 1600m | Trentham |
| 31 January | Gr.2 Lowland Stakes | $150,000 | 2100m | Trentham |
| 7 February | Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic | $275,000 | 2000m | Te Rapa |
| 21 February | Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks | $1,000,000 | 2400m | Ellerslie |
A spring Sunline Vase is something new, but it is shaping up to be a fascinating clash between some of the leading contenders for the $600,000 Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in Christchurch in November.
The line-up is headed by Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca), who tops the Filly of the Year Series table with 6 points after scoring a stunning come-from-nowhere win in the Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) two weeks ago.
Among her opposition is Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma), the only other New Zealand three-year-old to win at Group level so far this season. She produced a potent finish from last to take out the Group Three Northland Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Ruakaka in August in her most recent appearance.
Gold Trail Stakes third placegetter Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy) is also in the line-up, along with last season’s stakes-winning juveniles Too Sweet (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) and Little Black Dress (Snitzel). Lady Iris (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Abbakiss (Microphone) have both placed at black-type level.
Like the Gold Trail earlier this month, the Sunline Vase is worth 6 points to the winner, 3 for second and 1.5 for third. Lollapalooza tops the standings with her 6 points, with In Haste (Snitzel) second on 3 points and Queen’s Evidence third with 1.5.
The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase will be run as Race 8 at Ellerslie on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 4pm.
