The Victorian breeding industry lost an unsung hero and a link with history with the recent passing of Bill Birch, stud manager for 27 years at the famed Mornmoot Stud at Whittlesea.

The NZB Filly of the Year title has been locked up by Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn), but the two remaining races in the series both carry plenty of prestige in their own right – starting with the $250,000 Group Three Al Basti Equiworld Dubai Sunline Vase (2100m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.