breednet.com.au

Contessa Vanessa Chases NZB Filly of the Year Title

Media Release - Thursday March 1

Only one filly poses any possible threat to the 2017-18 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series leader Dijon Bleu (NZ) (Burgundy).

Contessa VanessaThat filly is Contessa Vanessa(NZ) (Bullbars), who will line up in the ninth leg of the Series, the $70,000 Group 3 McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Dijon Bleu has amassed a formidable tally of 30 points, which has almost guaranteed her the prestigious Filly of the Year title.

But with Dijon Bleu's season now over due to a slight injury, second-placed Contessa Vanessa has window of opportunity. If she can win both the Sunline Vase (6 points to the winner) and the final leg of the Series, the $400,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 17 (12 points), Contessa Vanessa will finish with a winning score of 31.5 points.

Contessa Vanessa won the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day, and she has placed in the Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) and Group 3 Eulogy Stakes (1550m). She warmed up for the Sunline Vase with an impressive win at Matamata last Saturday.

Advertisement

Other fillies in Saturday's field withFilly of the Year Seriespoints to their name areKapoor(NZ) (Reliable Man) with 4,Blanco Belle(NZ) (Cape Blanco) with 3,Gris Dame(NZ) (Reliable Man) with 2 andMarcellina(NZ) (Savabeel) with 2.

The Sunline Vase will be run as Race 7 during Ellerslie's New Zealand Derby meeting on Saturday, with a start time of 4.05pm.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday November 14
Here is the full list of 62 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Breeding to Win - G1 CF Orr Stakes
A small but select field of seven runners will line up in the $1million MRC CF Orr Stakes (1400m) on Saturday at Caulfield and a fascinating contest awaits for the first running of this great race in it's new slot on the calendar.
G1 CF Orr Stakes - Two of Them in 2025 - Not All Change is Bad!
Flemington is done and dusted for another year, but Melbourne’s Spring carnival rocks on and programming changes continue, with the relocation of the MRC's time honoured G1 CF Orr Stakes from its traditional February slot.
Catalogue Launched for Landmark 100th NZB National Yearling Sale
Fresh off the back of another record-breaking Ready to Run Sale, the cream of New Zealand’s yearling crop has been revealed for a landmark Karaka 2026, with a total of 1009 yearlings catalogued and now online.
Victorians Supporting National Thoroughbred Week
From November 20–24, dozens of farms and stables around Australia are opening their gates to the public for National Thoroughbred Week. It’s a chance for everyday Aussies see what happens beyond race day and on the farms - and to discover the deep care, commitment, and culture that surrounds the thoroughbred.
Sires With Winners - Sunday November 16
Here is the full list of 61 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Star WA Mare Storyville on Track for G1 Railway
Quality four year old mare Storyville (Overshare) collected her third stakes win and slammed the door of the Last Chance Saloon shut on a couple of potential Railway Stakes rivals in the G3 RJ Peters Stakes 1500m at Ascot.
Famous Family Produces G1 NZ 2000 Guineas
Victory bells have been ringing for Marie Leicester and her family for decades, with Romanoff the latest to hit a Group One note.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 15
Here is the full list of 110 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
NSW and Canberra Options for National Thoroughbred Week
From November 20–24, dozens of farms and stables around Australia are opening their gates to the public for National Thoroughbred Week. It’s a chance for everyday Aussies see what happens beyond race day and on the farms - and to discover the deep care, commitment, and culture that surrounds the thoroughbred.