NZB One Thousand Guineas This Saturday

NZB One Thousand Guineas This Saturday

Riccarton Park on Saturday will set the stage for the running of the third race in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One-Thousand Guineas (1600m).

Eleven three-year-olds will converge on the South Island's premier race-track to compete for their share of the NZ$325,000 prize-purse.

Grabbing most of the headlines is the John Sargent-trained Lovetrista (Rock of Gibraltar x Tristalove by Sir Tristram) who is currently favourite with Jason Waddell booked to continue his partnership with the regally bred filly. Her win in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie in September secured her four points on the Series leaderboard, where she sits two points behind Group 3 Highview Stakes winner Diamond Deck (Octagonal x Miss Trump by Last Tycoon). Lovetrista has started on just three occasions for her two stakes wins and a debut third placing.

Current premiership leading jockey Michael Walker and trainer Mark Walker, team up with the promising Insouciant (Keeper x Loudenne by Palace Music) who will be having her fourth race-day start. She has won on two occasions and ran a very close second to fellow Guineas contender Anna Bek (Ustinov x Quack by Magic Ring) at Trentham last weekend. Trained by Warren Bolton in New Plymouth, the unbeaten Ana Bek will be ridden by Gavin McKeon who has partnered her in her three race-day starts.

New Zealand's champion trainer Mark Walker also has Lady Sakura (Jungle Pocket x Lady Bay by Kingdom Bay) and the dual Listed winner Special Mission (Towkay x Te Akau Trek by Khozam) contesting the Guineas. Special Mission was second to Diamond Deck in the Group 3 Highview Stakes and in her last two starts, the Hawkes Bay and the Wellington Guineas, has managed sixth on both occasions.

Double or Nothin (Helissio x Unbeleevable by Zabeel) makes the trip South from Frank Ritchie's Cambridge Stable. She has had three starts for one win and has been fifth and sixth to Lovetrista in her last two starts.

Charlie Walding has the more seasoned Emily Jane (Black Minnaloushe x Pearl Dragon by Grosvenor) starting from barrier seven.

The Black Minnaloushe filly is a half-sister to the champion two-year-old filly Spring Rain (Centaine) and should acquit herself admirably from this draw, having already established a record of one win and two placings from her eight career starts.

Similarly well related, Seachange's (Cape Cross) half-sister Keepa Cruisin (Keeper x Just Cruising by Broad Reach) will be ridden by Leith Innes. Trainer Stephen McKee will be hoping the Karreman Bloodstock owned filly can turn the tide after finishing second to Lovetrista in her last two starts.

Te Awamutu-based Robert Priscott is represented by Lady Lucille (Istidaad x Leave Me Lucille by Dehere), who will line up in her ninth career start from barrier six. Having clicked to the racing game this preparation, she broke maiden ranks in her first start back and has finished second in her subsequent two.

Oxford Aunt (Tuscany Flyer x Albertina by Omnicorp) has the home track advantage, being trained at Riccarton by Pam Robson. She has the services of leading South Island jockey, Chris Johnson.

The Pukekohe-based runner from the Russell Cameron and Gareth McRae stable, Rathsallagh (O'Reilly x Star of Amarissa by Assert) should be primed for a big effort having finished third in the Group 2 Wellington Guineas to the talented Rios (Hussonet x Gussy Godiva by Last Tycoon) recently.

ENDS

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