Insouciant Takes Lead in Fillies Series

Insouciant Takes Lead in Fillies Series

Insouciant (Keeper x Loudenne by Palace Music) lived true to her name, showing blithe disregard for the rest of the field with an all-the-way victory in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton on Saturday.

Bred and owned by Pencarrow Stud's Peter and Philip Vela, she is trained by New Zealand's reigning champion trainer Mark Walker and was ridden to instructions by the country's leading jockey, the Stud's retained rider Michael Walker.

The short-priced favourite, Lovetrista (Rock of Gibraltar x Tristalove by Sir Tristram) crossed the line in second place only to be relegated to third after moving in on Keepa Cruisin (Keeper x Just Cruising by Broad Reach) down the home straight. Raced by a group including her breeder Sir Patrick Hogan, the Cambridge Stud principal received some consolation for Lovetrista's relegation, with Keepa Cruisin's promotion resulting in a quinella for his resident sire Keeper (Danehill).

Insouciant is Keeper's first Group 1 winner with both fillies being from the Group 1 SAJC Goodwood Handicap winner's first crop to race. She joins Group 2 ARC Royal Stakes winner Keep the Passion, Listed Levin Ryder Stakes winner Keep the Message and Group 2 Sandown Guineas winner Sender as stakes-winners for their sire.

New Zealand Bloodstock's Ready to Run Sale next week will feature six two-year-olds by Keeper.

Insouciant was having just her fifth race-day start to record her third win. She is from the stakes-placed mare Loudenne who is a half-sister to Caserio, the dam of recent Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes winner and last year's Group 1 NZB One Thousand Guineas winner Dorabella (Postponed x Caserio by Kaapstad).

Pencarrow Stud will offer Insouciant's half-brother by Highview Stud's Breeders' Cup Turf winner Johar (Gone West) at the Karaka Premier Sale in January.

The 12 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year points for winning the NZ$325,000 race sends Insouciant to the top of the Series leaderboard, while Keepa Cruisin now has nine and Lovetrista added to her points tally for a total of 7.5.

The next race in the NZB Filly of the Year Series is the Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni on 15 December. Click here for more information on the Series.

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