The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series continues on Thursday with the eighth leg, the $70,000 Group 3 Little Avondale Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings – a key lead-up to Oaks races on both sides of the Tasman.
Lowland Stakes winners have a remarkable Oaks record in recent seasons. The 2015 winner Savaria(NZ) (Savabeel) won the New Zealand Oaks, 2016 winner Sofia Rosa(NZ) (Makfi) finished second in the New Zealand Oaks before winning the Australian Oaks, and last year’s winnerBonneval(NZ) (Makfi) won both the New Zealand Oaks and Australian Oaks.
This year’s 13-strong Lowland Stakes field features Group 1 winner Hasahalo(NZ) (Savabeel), Group 1 placegettersBelle du Nord(NZ) (Reliable Man) andSavvy Coup(NZ) (Savabeel), stakes winnerTreasure(NZ) (Mastercraftsman), and stakes placegettersMilseain(NZ) (Tavistock),Swing Note(Encosta de Lago),Caricature(NZ) (Power) andLuxe(NZ) (O’Reilly).
The Lowland Stakes is worth 6 Filly of the Year Series points to the winner, with 3 points for second and 1.5 for third.
Hasahalo currently sits third on the points table with 12, just behind the second-placedContessa Vanessa(NZ) (Bullbars) who has 13.5.Dijon Bleu(NZ) (Burgundy) is the clear leader with 30 points.
The Lowland Stakes will be run as Race 7 on Thursday’s twilight programme, with a start time of 5.47pm.