NZB Southern Filly Series Enters Final Stretch

Media Release - Friday April 11

The 2024-25 NZB Southern Filly of the Year Series contenders have everything to play for over the next couple of weeks, beginning with Saturday’s $80,000 Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m) at Riccarton.

The first two races were won by Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) and Pivotal Ten (NZ) (Ten Sovereigns), who have 7 points each but will not feature in either the NZB Airfreight Stakes or the Listed Warstep Stakes (2000m) on April 26. Those final two races of the series are each worth 7 points for first, 4 for second and 2 for third, which means the Southern Filly title is within anyone’s reach.

Dream of the Moon will run on Saturday - Race Images

Among the most prominent title contenders in Saturday’s NZB Airfreight Stakes field are Dream Of The Moon (All Too Hard) and Lil Zena (NZ) (U S Navy), who earned 4 points each with second placings in the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m) and Listed NZB Insurance Stakes (1400m) respectively.

They will be joined in Saturday’s line-up by Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose), who has 2 points after finishing third in the NZB Insurance Stakes. Loose Sally has since won the Listed Dunedin Guineas (1600m).

Advertisement

Other leading chances among Saturday’s big field include Connello (NZ) (Time Test), who finished second to the NZB Filly of the Year Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) in both the Group Three Eulogy Stakes (1600m) and the Group Three Desert Gold Stakes (1600m).

The NZB Airfreight Stakes will be run as Race 8 at Riccarton on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 3.52pm.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Trial Winner for Captivant
Captivant’s early promise was on full display at today’s Waipa trials when Capital Express stormed to victory in Heat 4. The Paul Pertab-trained 2YO colt impressed early, showcasing the speed and class expected of his G1 Champagne Stakes-winning sire in a performance that marked him as one to watch.
Coolmore Stallion Parade – A to Z-Catch Up on What You Might Have Missed!
The annual Coolmore Australia stallion parade is one you just can’t miss and if you didn’t make it this year, do read on as you will feel like you were there after all!
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
Black Type Potential for Zoustar Colt
Tony and Calvin McEvoy have  plans to tackle Black Type races with promising Zoustar colt Prestar, who scored his second win from just five starts at Randwick on Wednesday.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Sires With Winners - Monday August 25
Here is the full list of 12 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Al Riffa Aiming Towards Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock
The exceptional qualities of Coolmore shuttler Wootton Bassett (GB) are such that he can get fast juveniles and also high class older horses over a distance and we are set to see a taste of it this spring as media reports suggest Australian Bloodstock have purchased his top class 5YO stallion Al Riffa.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday August 27
Here is the full list of 42 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Wootton Bassett Colt Salutes at Sandown
Overdue for a win, talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt Yamashita’s Gold shook off maiden status with a determined victory at Sandown on Wednesday for the Gavid Bedggood stable.
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?