The famous Boxing Day races at Ellerslie will feature the running of the fourth leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, the $100,000 Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m), which could have a big impact on this season's Series leader board.
La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) has held a commanding lead with 12 points since her superb win in the Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) in early November.
But unbeaten filly Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge) moved within striking distance with 6 points for her win in the Group 3 LawnMaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) earlier this month, and she could take the lead with a win in the Eight Carat Classic. The winner of the race receives 8 points, with 4 for second and 2 for third.
The only other runners in the Eight Carat Classic field who has already picked up points in the Series are Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins), who earned three points for her second placing in the Group 3 Hawke's Bay Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) in September, and Eulogy Stakes third placegetter Storytime (NZ) (Savabeel), who earned 1.5.
But the Eight Carat Classic field also features the exciting last-start winners Devise (NZ) (Darci Brahma), Galloping Gerte (NZ) (Align), Date Night (NZ) (Savabeel) and Princess Sapphire (NZ) (Savabeel) along with many other well-bred and promising fillies.
The Eight Carat Classic will be closely followed by the fifth leg of the Series, the $100,000 Group 2 Stella Artois Royal Stakes (2000m), which offers the same number of points.
NZB Release
