A range of outstanding form lines from the last few weeks will converge at Trentham on Saturday for the seventh leg of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series – the $80,000 Group Three New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).
Princess Lowry (NZ) (Roc De Cambes) is the only filly in the field of 13 to already have New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series points to her name, earning 6 points through her recent placings in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Royal Stakes (2000m). In both races she finished close up behind the Jamie Richards-trained stars Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy) and Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking), who are first and third respectively on the points table and loom as major title contenders.
But there are also some compelling form credentials from other recent three-year-old races. Sassy Merlot (NZ) (Burgundy), a two-race winner in a six-start career to date, was a gutsy last-start third against male three-year-olds in the Group Two Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham – the same venue as this weekend’s Desert Gold Stakes. The two horses that beat Sassy Merlot that day were the undefeated star Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress) and multiple stakes winner Pareanui Bay (NZ) (Lonhro).
La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos) has collected three wins in an exciting five-start career to date, including a superb last-start victory at Ellerslie over the Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner The Perfect Pink (NZ) (Savabeel). Notably, the fourth placegetter in that Ellerslie race was Pin Me Up (NZ) (Pins), who went on to win last Saturday’s $1m Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
Rue Cler (NZ) (Proisir) has won two races and was a close fifth in last month’s Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m), while Third Time Round (NZ) (Tivaci) finished a last-start fifth in the Wellington Guineas. Invincibeel (NZ) (Savabeel), Love Letter (NZ) (Wrote), Polly Plum (Xtravagant), Prioress (NZ) (Proisir), Shining Peak (NZ) (Turn Me Loose) and Korubela Miss (NZ) (Belardo) have been impressive maiden winners in recent weeks.
The NZB Desert Gold Stakes is worth 6 Filly of the Year Series points to the winner, with 3 for second and 1.5 for third. The Desert Gold Stakes will be run as Race 6 at Trentham on Saturday, with a start time of 3.25pm.
