Filly of the Year Series Leader Returns to the Fray

Media Release - Thursday January 18

The NZB Filly of the Year Series continues on Saturday with the sixth leg, the $70,000 Group 3 Metroclad-Terracade Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, and it features the return of table-topper Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy).

Dijon Bleu - Trish DunnellThe Lisa Latta-trained filly has led the Series from the start, winning the first leg – Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September. She then finished second in the Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) and Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m), lifting her total to 16 points.

Dijon Bleu will maintain her Series lead regardless of Saturday's result, with 6 points available to the winner and her nearest rival in the field, The Lustre (NZ) (Darci Brahma), sitting on 3.5.

Larima(NZ) (Pour Moi) was a fast-finishing fourth in the Eulogy andSandrine(NZ) (Savabeel) finished seventh in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic, while the rest of the Desert Gold field will make their Filly of the Year Series debut.

They include a number of impressive last-start winners such asSwiss Precision(NZ) (Swiss Ace),Milseain(NZ) (Tavistock) andRondinella(NZ) (Ocean Park).

Advertisement

In addition to the 6 points on offer to the Desert Gold Stakes winner, there are 3 points for second and 1.5 for third.

The Metroclad-Terracade Desert Gold Stakes will be run as Race 8 at Trentham on Saturday, with a start time of 4.22pm.

NZB Release

Advertisment
More Reading...
Progressive Mare Bred on Magic Cross
The magic Fastnet Rock x Galileo cross that has produced champion mare Via Sistina (IRE) was in the frame overnight in Ireland where six year-old mare Goodie Two Shoes scored a career best win in the Group III Stanerra Stakes (1m6f) at Fairyhouse.
Debut Win for Expensive Capitalist 2YO
An $800,000 Magic Millions purchase from Attunga Stud for the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership, Capitalist colt Caesar was the highest priced yearling by his sire sold in 2024 and made a winning debut at Gosford on Thursday.
Bred to be Good - So You Think x More Joyous
It sounds like a match made in heaven, a colt by two time Cox Plate winning sire So You Think from eight time Group I winner More Joyous, and this 2YO is slated to make his debut in New Zealand this weekend,  
Two powerful additions announced for Equate 2025
The countdown to Equate '25 just got even more exciting. Australasia's number one innovation event for the thoroughbred industry has announced two brand-new sessions that bring together transparency, technology, and tangible takeaways for all attendees.
One to Watch – Gosford
Capitalist had a double of debut winning two year-olds at Gosford on Thursday both prepared by Peter Snowden and while the expensive colt Caesar got the job done, it was the filly that really had people talking.
Willydoit Data Surprise - Sprinter or Stayer?
Scientific tests have revealed surprising results on the distance aptitude of this season’s star New Zealand staying three-year-old Willydoit.
Justify Strikes at Newmarket with New G3 Winner
The Group III Bahrain Trophy Stakes ((1m5f) at Newmarket overnight produced a runaway winner in Scandinavia and while his sire Justify no longer shuttles to Australia, two of his sons will be on the roster at Coolmore this spring in City of Troy (IRE) and Storm Boy.
G1 Sprinter Crocetti Returns to Work
Group One-winning sprinter Crocetti has returned to Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Byerley Park stable with some lofty summer targets in-mind.
Bred to Be Better at Three
Andrew Campbell will unveil another exciting youngster at Hawera on Saturday when two-year-old gelding Valvano makes his debut in the Simon Bendall @ Metcalfe Real Estate (1200m).
Bloodstockauction 2025 Stallion Cover Charity Auction
Bloodstockauction Stallion Cover Charity Auction is on again this year seeking to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities Sydney.