For the 45th straight season, New Zealand Bloodstock is proud to sponsor the prestigious NZB Filly of the Year Series.
Beginning with the $70,000 Group 3 Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in September and culminating in the $400,000 Group 1 Al Basti Equiworld New Zealand Oaks (2400m) in March, New Zealand's finest three-year-old fillies will do battle in 10 exciting races to determine supremacy of their generation.
The Series is decided on the basis of points earned across the 10 races, with points awarded to the first, second and third placegetters in each race. The number of points available varies between Group 1, Group 2 and Group 3 races.
Adding extra excitement to the 2017-18 Series, the New Zealand Oaks has received a $100,000 prizemoney increase courtesy of new sponsor Al Basti Equiworld and is now worth $400,000.
There are two changes to the schedule this season – the $100,000 Group 2 Royal Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie shifted back two weeks from New Year's Day to January 14, and the $70,000 Group 3 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes at Hawke's Bay has moved to March 1.
The winner of the NZB Filly of the Year title immediately becomes a highly valuable breeding proposition and earns her connections $50,000 in bonus cheques including $10,000 for her breeder, $10,000 for her trainer and $30,000 for her owner.
The Series boasts an outstanding honour roll, and its winners and their progeny are always held in high regard both in New Zealand and internationally. Standout winners includeLa Mer, Our Flight, Snap, Tycoon Lil, Savannah Success, Princess Coup, Daffodil, Katie Lee and one of Australasia's very best three-year-olds of last season,Bonneval.
At the end of her highly successful racing career, Savannah Success made an even greater impact as a broodmare. Her son Savabeel won a Cox Plate and has become a multiple champion sire in New Zealand. She produced eight winners from 10 foals to race, with Arlington also Group 1-placed.
After clinching a Filly of the Year Series triumph in 2008-09, Daffodil went on to score dominant victories in the Group 1 Australian Oaks and Windsor Park Plate. She was also fourth in a Caulfield Cup. She has already produced the stakes performer Snowdrop, while a filly by Savabeel sold to the China Horse Club for $600,000 at the 2017 Premier Sale.
Snap's progeny sold up to $320,000 at Karaka, while the $340,000 Premier Sale purchase Katie Lee, who made history as the first horse to win both the New Zealand 2000 Guineas and New Zealand 1000 Guineas, has had yearlings sell for $800,000 and $375,000.
