With only three legs remaining in the 2020-21 New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, Wednesday’s $100,000 Group Two Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes (2100m) at Hastings looms as a must-win for anyone with hopes of catching Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel).
Trained by Jamie Richards for the Te Akau Hopskip’n’jump Syndicate, Amarelinha has emerged as a standout filly of her generation. Bought for $300,000 at Karaka 2019 by David Ellis, the high-class filly scored dazzling victories in the Group Two Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), and she leads the Filly of the Year Series with 16 points.
Amarelinha’s next two targets are the last two of the Series – the Group Three McKee Family Sunline Vase (2100m) on March 6, and then the Group One Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 20.
In Amarelinha’s absence, the 8 points for the winner of Wednesday’s Lowland Stakes could be crucial for other fillies’ hopes of launching a Filly of the Year challenge.
Fleetwood Maca (NZ) (Rock ‘n’ Pop) and Lily’s Lady (NZ) (Contributer) earned 4 points each with Group Two placings earlier this season, while Love For All (Love Conquers All) and Passione (NZ) (Proisir) earned 3 points and 1.5 points respectively with placings at Group Three level.
Other stakes-performed runners in Wednesday’s field include Zee Falls (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who won the Group Three Wellington Stakes (1600m) and was a last-start second placegetter in the Group Two Waikato Guineas (2000m), as well as the Listed placegetters Cheaperthandivorce (NZ) (Savabeel) and Providenceprovides (Real Impact).
As well as the 8 points to the winner, the Lowland Stakes is also worth 4 points for second and 2 points for third.
The Little Avondale Stud Lowland Stakes will be run as Race 7 on Wednesday with a start time of 6:08pm.
