NZB Filly of the Year Series Continues with Classy Desert Gold Stakes Field

Media Release - Friday January 19

A field stacked with emerging talent will clash in Saturday’s $120,000 Group Three New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham, which is the seventh leg of the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.

Molly Bloom is the series leader.

The Desert Gold Stakes is worth 6 points to the winner on the NZB Filly of the Year Series standings, with 3 points for second and 1.5 for third. Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) currently tops the table with 20 points, while Impendabelle (Impending) and Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin) are the others in double digits with 15 and 12 points respectively.

Advertisement

The only runners in Saturday’s Desert Gold Stakes field with NZB Filly of the Year Series points already to their name are Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag) and Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj). Chantilly Lace earned 3 points with a runner-up finish in the series-opening Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings in September, while Grail Seeker finished third in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe on Boxing Day and picked up 2 points.

Outside of that proven pair, 11 of the other 12 runners in Saturday’s Desert Gold Stakes field have won races, including last-start winners Sudbina (NZ) (Almanzor), Positivity (NZ) (Almanzor), Say I Do (NZ) (Pierro) and Sense Of Timing (NZ) (Time Test).

The New Zealand Bloodstock Desert Gold Stakes will be run as Race 5 o

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 19
Here is the full list of 28 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Churchill Colt Pulls Off Stunning Pinhooking Result at NZB Ready To Run
Chad Ormsby has enjoyed plenty of racetrack success this year with pinhooks that he has been unable to sell at the Ready to Run Sale, but the multi-talented horseman had a very different outcome with the standout member of his 2024 Riverrock Farm draft at Karaka on Thursday.
Tavistock Mare Chasing G1
Last start Gr.3 Thompson Handicap (1600m) winner Town Cryer has another Trentham feature in her sights, taking the next step towards the Gr.1 TAB Mufhasa Classic (1600m) at the Foxton trials on Tuesday.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
No Compromise Still Going Strong in NZ
Bill Thurlow couldn’t have hoped for a better week at the New Zealand Cup carnival and is optimistic a more senior member of the team can add a northern feature to the stable’s tally this Saturday.
Million-dollar Hour for Leung at NZB Ready To Run
Hong Kong bloodstock agent Willie Leung had a big hour at Karaka early on Thursday afternoon, spending more than $1 million to secure two well-credentialled colts at the NZB Ready to Run Sale.
Express Yourself Returns to NZ
Group One performer Express Yourself has returned home from her spring campaign in Melbourne and is now on a path towards the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.