The New Zeland Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series returns to the North Island on Saturday with leg three, the $70,000 Group 3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni, the chance for some newcomers to make their mark on the prestigious Series in 2016-17.
With the first three fillies home in last month's Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton absent from Saturday's field, and also no fillies lining up from September's Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings (1200m), the runners in Saturday's race will all be vying for their first points in the Series.
Most of the pre-race attention surrounds the undefeated Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge), who has won her four starts by a combined margin of more than nine lengths. Among her victories was last season's Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m), beating subsequent Gold Trail Stakes winner Honey Rider (NZ) (Pins).
But the likely favourite will face stiff opposition from her eight rivals, which include six recent winners.
There are many well-bred fillies in the field. Rayas (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) is a full-sister to the recent Group 2 winner Lasarla (NZ), Angeline (NZ) (Cape Blanco) is out of the Group 2 Wellington Cup winner Megapins (NZ), Save The Date (NZ) (Savabeel) is out of a half-sister to Starcraft (NZ) (Soviet Star) while Storytime (NZ) (Savabeel) and Darscape Princess (NZ) (Darci Brahma) are out of stakes-placed mares.
The race will be run as race six at Awapuni and will start at 3.38pm.
The winner of the Eulogy Stakes will receive 6 points, with 3 points for the runner-up and 1.5 points for the third-placed horse.
gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas winner La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) sits at the top of the table with 12 points.
To view NZB Filly of the Year Series information including the Series races and Leaderboard click here.
NZB Release
