The 2017-18 NZB Filly of the Year Series will hit fever pitch on Saturday with its second leg, the $300,000 Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
The first of two Group 1 events in the 10-race New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, the 1000 Guineas carries 12 points for the winner, 7 for second and 3.5 for third.
Seven of the last 10 Filly of the Year Series winners have won the 1000 Guineas –Insouciant(NZ) (Keeper) in 2007,Daffodil(NZ) (No Excuse Needed) in 2008, Katie Lee (Pins) in 2009,King's Rose(NZ) (Redoute's Choice) in 2010, Planet Rock (Fastnet Rock) in 2011,Costa Viva(Encosta de Lago) in 2013 and Platinum Witness (California Dane) in 2014.
The current leader in the 2017-18 series is the Lisa Latta-trained Dijon Bleu(NZ) (Burgundy), who collected 6 points from her victory in the first leg, the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings.
The favourite is Prom Queen (NZ) (Super Easy), who is making her first Filly of the Year Series start. The chestnut filly, trained by Kenny and Lisa Rae and Krystal Williams, has won eight of her nine starts including the Group 3 Barneswood Farm Stakes (1400m), Group 3 Northland Breeders' Stakes (1200m), Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) and Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m).
The 1000 Guineas will be run as Race 8 with a start time of 3:10pm.
