Even without the title of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year on the line, Saturday’s last leg of the 11-race series promises to deliver an exciting finale.
The $450,000 Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham is the richest and one of the most coveted prizes on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series itinerary, but not even the massive 12 points available to the winner will be enough for anyone to catch Legarto (NZ) (Proisir).
With spectacular performances in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m), Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m), Legarto amassed an unassailable 26 points and has had the Filly of the Year title in safe keeping for several weeks.
But despite not having that Filly of the Year factor, the Oaks loses none of its lustre. The prestigious classic has been won by some of New Zealand’s standout fillies of the last half-century, such as La Mer (NZ) (Copenhagen), Solveig (NZ) (Imposing), Domino (NZ) (Grosvenor), Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay), Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon), Savannah Success (Success Express), Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) and Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi).
A full field of 18 fillies will line up at Trentham on Saturday afternoon and attempt to join that roll of honour. Sakura Girl (NZ) (Iffraaj), Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) and Diss Is Dramatic (NZ) (Dissident) have already been Group winners, while half a dozen others have been placegetters at black-type level.
Second place on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series table is well and truly up for grabs, with Sakura Girl currently in fourth on 10 points, Val Di Zoldo sixth on 6 points, Sedaka (NZ) (Savabeel) eighth on 7 points, Contagious (NZ) (Proisir) ninth on 6 points, and Pennyweka (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) one point behind her with 5.
The Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks will be run as Race 8 at Trentham on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 5.23pm.
