The beginning of September is always an exciting time in New Zealand racing for a number of reasons. Our elite older horses return to the racetrack to kick off their ambitious spring campaigns, while at the other end of the spectrum, some of the brightest age-group talent goes head-to-head for the first time – including in the prestigious New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.
Now in its 51st year, the NZB Filly of the Year Series brings together New Zealand’s elite three-year-old filly talent through a series of 11 high-quality races between September and March, staged over distances ranging from 1200 to 2400 metres.
Whoever has earned the most points by the end of the Series receives the coveted crown of NZB Filly of the Year and immediately becomes a highly valuable breeding proposition. She will also earn her connections $50,000 in bonus cheques, including $10,000 for her breeder, $10,000 for her trainer and $30,000 for her owner.
It all starts this Saturday at Hastings with the first leg of the 2022-23 NZB Filly of the Year Series – the $100,000 Group Three HB/PB Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association Gold Trail Stakes (1200m).
The Gold Trail always draws a high-quality field, and this year appears to be no different.
Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit) and Hanalei (NZ) (Darci Brahma) were both Listed winners last season, and Pacific Dragon has also placed at both Group Two and Group Three level.
Best Seller (NZ) (Wrote) was a Group Two placegetter as a two-year-old and heads into Saturday’s race on the back of an impressive last-start win, while Miss Nico Belle (Nicconi) and Mazzolino (NZ) (Savabeel) have both placed in Listed races in their short careers to date.
Another runner commanding plenty of attention is debut placegetter Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt), trained by Mark Walker for the powerful Te Akau Racing team. The Matamata stable has produced an incredible eight New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year winners in the last 16 years – Sans Doute (NZ) (Chief Bearhart), Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper), King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice), Costa Viva (Encosta De Lago), Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) and last year’s joint winners, Belle En Rouge (NZ) (Burgundy) and Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking).
The winner of Saturday’s Gold Trail Stakes will receive 8 points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series, with 3 points for second and 1.5 for third.
The Gold Trail Stakes gets this season’s Series underway as Race 7 at Hastings on Saturday, with a start time of 3.14pm.
