NZB Filly Crown on the Line in Series Finale   13 Mar 2014

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NZB Filly Crown on the Line in Series Finale

The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year finale is this weekend with the Group 1 $300,000 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks set to determine the winner of the Series.

The Series is currently led by Costa Viva (Encosta de Lago) who will not compete in the Group 1 feature. There is only one horse in Saturday’s event that has a chance to overtake Costa Viva and reign supreme in the Series.

Miss Selby (NZ) (O’Reilly) was the last start winner of the Group 3 Lowland Stakes, collecting 6 points in the Series to take her overall total to 12 points. The John Bary trained filly has never finished outside of the first three placings in her six-start career. She will be once again be ridden by Jonathan Riddell from barrier 6.

At the top of the book is Moozoon (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) who has been in outstanding form, winning three races on end before a runner-up finish last start in the Group 3 Sunline Vase. The daughter of Perfectly Ready is trained by Stephen McKee and has barrier 2 for rider Mark Sweeney.

South Island filly Include (NZ) (Gallant Guru) carries winning form into the race with successes at her last two starts both at Listed level. The Brian & Shane Anderton trained filly has won five of her seven raceday appearances and will start from barrier 3 for leading southern jockey Chris Johnson.

Last year’s NZ Oaks winning trio of owners Raffles Dancers, trainers Tony Pike & Mark Donoghue and rider Leith Innes once again combine with Rock Diva (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn) following the win of More Than Sacred (More Than Ready) in 2013. The Lucky Unicorn filly won the Group 3 Sunline Vase at her last start, as did More Than Sacred leading into her Group 1 victory. Rock Diva has drawn ideally in barrier 7.

Runner-up to Miss Selby in the Group 3 Lowland Stakes was the John Sargent & Hayden Allen trained Miss Mossman (NZ) (Mossman). The Mossman filly will start from the handy draw of barrier 4 for rider Johnathon Parkes.

One of three horses carrying the Waikato Stud colours is Sports Illustrated (NZ) (Fast ‘n’ Famous) for trainers Murray Baker & Andrew Forsman. The filly by Fast ‘n’ Famous has won two of her six starts to date and will start from barrier 9 for leading rider Mark du Plessis.

The second horse donning the Waikato Stud silks is Far Fetched (NZ) (Pins), this one trained by John Bary. A last start third in the Group 3 Lowland Stakes, the Pins filly has drawn the outside barrier of the 15-horse field for rider Michael Coleman.

The third of the Waikato Stud trio is Tiara (NZ) (O’Reilly) for trainer Jason Bridgman. The daughter of O’Reilly is a winner of one race and was a good second at her last start. She will be ridden by Rory Hutchings from barrier 11.

The Mike Moroney & Chad Ormsby training partnership has The Fire Inside (NZ) (Sir Percy) in the field. The Sir Percy filly failed last start in the Group 1 NZ Derby against the boys however has strong form in fillies company, placing in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at her previous start but has to overcome barrier 14.

Two-win filly Hot Rod (NZ) (Pentire) enters the race having finished third in the Group 3 Sunline Vase at her last start. Trained in Matamata by Paul & Kris Shailer, the Pentire filly has drawn barrier 5 for jockey Hayden Tinsley.

Well-named Guillotine filly Chop Chop (NZ) (Guillotine) disappointed last start in the Group 3 Lowland stakes after running a strong race when finishing fourth in the Group 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic. The Shaune Ritchie trained filly will jump from barrier 9 in the Group 1 feature.

Stephen McKee has a second runner in the race with Queenoftheamazon (NZ) (Savabeel) starting from the ace barrier draw. The Savabeel filly was a winner two starts ago and is to be ridden by Rosie Myers.

Carrying 1 point into the Series final is Zanotti (NZ) (Strategic Image) after running third in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes early in the season. Carrying the colours of Go Racing, the Strategic Image filly has drawn barrier 10 for rider Danielle Johnson and trainer Stephen Marsh.

The last horse in the book is the maiden runner Eyeful Tower (NZ) (Le Bec Fin) for Dick & Chris Bothwell. The Le Bec Fin filly will look to break maidens in the Group 1 feature from barrier 8 with Samantha Collet aboard.

The winner of the Group 1 Wellfield New Zealand Oaks will earn 12 points in the Series, second collects 7 points and third placing earns 3.5 points.

The top three horses on the Filly of the Year Series Leaderboard are all absent from the Series final leaving Miss Selby as the only horse with a chance to pass Costa Viva and claim the Filly of the Year crown.

ENDS

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