There is the potential for more major movement on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series points table when the sixth leg of the Series, the $70,000 Group 3 Wellfield Desert Gold Stakes (1600m), is run at Trentham on Saturday.
For the second race in a row, the top two fillies on the leader board are absent. Group 3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes and Group 2 Eight Carat Classic winner Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) is running instead in the NZB Insurance Karaka 3YO Mile at Ellerslie on Sunday, while Group 1 gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas heroine La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) is being prepared for a Sydney autumn campaign.
With 14 and 12 points respectively, Volpe Veloce and La Diosa have a clear lead in the Filly of the Year Series. But Saturday's race offers 6 points to the winner, 3 for second and 1.5 for third, providing the opportunity for other fillies to narrow that gap.
Three runners in Saturday's field have already earned points in this Series. Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins) has contested four races in the Series and earned 3 points for running second in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes. Rip Into Ghia (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) chased home Volpe Veloce in the Eulogy Stakes and collected 3 points. Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel) ran third in the Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day and picked up 2 points.
Victory in Saturday's race would move Glass Slipper or Rip Into Ghia into outright third spot on the leader board, while Date Night would share third with the Group 2 Royal Stakes winner She Brings Joy (NZ) (Sebring) who has 8 points.
NZB Release