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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.

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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.

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