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Newcomers Take Centre Stage in Eulogy Stakes

Newcomers Take Centre Stage in Eulogy Stakes

Thursday, Dec 8, 2016

The New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series returns to the North Island on Saturday with leg three, the $70,000 Group 3 Lawnmaster Eulogy Stakes (1600m) at Awapuni, the chance for some newcomers to make their mark on the prestigious Series in 2016-17.

With the first three fillies home in last month’s Group 1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton absent from Saturday’s field, and also no fillies lining up from September’s Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings (1200m), the runners in Saturday’s race will all be vying for their first points in the Series.

Most of the pre-race attention surrounds the undefeated Volpe Veloce (Foxwedge), who has won her four starts by a combined margin of more than nine lengths. Among her victories was last season’s Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m), beating subsequent Gold Trail Stakes winner Honey Rider (NZ) (Pins).

But the likely favourite will face stiff opposition from her eight rivals, which include six recent winners.

There are many well-bred fillies in the field. Rayas (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) is a full-sister to the recent Group 2 winner Lasarla (NZ), Angeline (NZ) (Cape Blanco) is out of the Group 2 Wellington Cup winner Megapins (NZ), Save The Date (NZ) (Savabeel) is out of a half-sister to Starcraft (NZ) (Soviet Star) while Storytime (NZ) (Savabeel) and Darscape Princess (NZ) (Darci Brahma) are out of stakes-placed mares.

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The race will be run as race six at Awapuni and will start at 3.38pm.

The winner of the Eulogy Stakes will receive 6 points, with 3 points for the runner-up and 1.5 points for the third-placed horse.

gavelhouse.com 1000 Guineas winner La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think) sits at the top of the table with 12 points.

To view NZB Filly of the Year Series information including the Series races and Leaderboard click here.

#HorseDrawCommentsTrainerJockey
1Volpe Veloce4Foxwedge filly Volpe Veloce is the most accomplished runner in this field. She has had four starts for four wins, including the Listed Castletown Stakes (1200m). Her wins have come by a combined margin of more than nine lengths. She was purchased at Karaka for $240,000 by trainer Graham RichardsonGraham RichardsonJohnathon Parkes
2Rayas6The Paul Shailer-trained filly Rayas (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) is a full-sister to the recent Group 2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1400m) winner Lasarla (NZ). Rayas won impressively on debut, then ran fourth before a last-start second in the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m).Paul Shailer
3Storytime8Savabeel filly Storytime (NZ) is a daughter of the stakes-placed Authoress (Fuji Kiseki). She has had five starts for a win and a placing, and she was a last-start seventh in the Group 3 Wellington Stakes (1600m).Evan & JJ RaynerHayden Tinsley
4Angeline9A daughter of Cape Blanco and the Group 2 Wellington Cup (2400m) winner Megapins (NZ) (Pins), Angeline (NZ) has had three starts to date for a fifth, an eighth and a last-start maiden win.Shaune Ritchie
5Darscape Princess1Darscape Princess (NZ) is by Darci Brahma out of the stakes-placed mare Cape Princess (NZ) (Cape Cross). Darscape Princess has had a win, two seconds and a fourth from four starts.Fraser Auret
6Save The Date2Possibly the best-bred horse in the field, Save The Date (NZ) (Savabeel) is out of More To Love (NZ) (Danasinga) - a half-sister to the five-time Group 1 winner and successful sire Starcraft (NZ) (Soviet Star). Save The Date has started three times for a third, a fourth and a last-start win.Lance Noble
7Shez Swanky5Align filly Shez Swanky (NZ) was an impressive debut winner who finished ninth behind race rival Volpe Veloce in her only other start.Jim CollettDarryl Bradley
8Rip Into Ghia7Rip Into Ghia (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle) has had four starts so far and her best result was a third, but she was an unlucky fifth in her most recent start at New Plymouth.Lisa Latta
9Choux Play3Jimmy Choux filly Choux Play (NZ) has had two top-four finishes from her five starts to date. She was unlucky last time out at New Plymouth.Bryce Revell

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