Group 1 Filly Takes Shot at Filly of the Year Series Lead

Breednet - Wednesday January 16

An exciting New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series continues on Saturday with the sixth leg, the $70,000 Group 3 Williment Travel Group Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

Dijon Bleu (NZ) winning the 2018 Desert Gold Stakes.

Dijon Bleu (NZ) winning the 2018 Desert Gold Stakes.

The talented field is headed by Valalie (Snitzel), who hasn't raced since a strong-finishing second in the Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November.

That performance earned her 7 points and a prominent position on the Filly of the Year Series table. The only fillies ahead of her are Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) with 12 and Pinmedown (NZ) (Pins), Imelda Mary (NZ) (Ferlax) and Queen of Diamonds (NZ) (Savabeel), who all have 8.

None of those fillies are lining up in the Desert Gold, leaving the road clear for Valalie to move up the table. Victory in the Desert Gold is worth 6 points, which would propel her into the lead, while the 3 points for second or 1.5 points for third would move her into second position.

Her opposition on Saturday includes stakes winners Secret Allure (NZ) (Zacinto) and Emily Margaret (NZ) (Pins), along with stakes placegetters Pullyoursocksup (NZ) (Thewayyouare), Just Fabulous (NZ) (O'Reilly) and Sentimental Miss (NZ) (Reliable Man).

The Williment Travel Group Desert Gold Stakes will be run as Race 8 on Saturday with a start time of 4:22pm.

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