his season’s New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series moves into the northern region for the first time on Saturday, and the stage is set for a spectacular showdown in the $85,000 Group Three Super Seth Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) at Te Rapa.
The Soliloquy Stakes is the second of 11 races in the Filly of the Year Series, which began with a big win by Best Seller (NZ) (Wrote) in last month’s Group Three Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings and runs all the way through to the Group One New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 18.
Best Seller tops the table with 6 points, backed up by Gold Trail placegetters Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) and Mazzolino (NZ) (Savabeel) on 3 and 1.5 points respectively.
Mazzolino is the only one of that trio to return for Saturday’s Soliloquy, giving her an opportunity to take an outright lead on the Filly of the Year Series standings.
But it will be far from an easy task, coming up against half a dozen last-start winners including a pair of undefeated Proisir fillies – Legarto (NZ) and Prowess (NZ).
Both boasting a flawless two-from-two record, Legarto and Prowess are currently the two favourites for next month’s Group One New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton.
The chances don’t end there, with Taranaki raider Rocababy (NZ) (El Roca) already a Listed winner this season, while Miss Nico Belle (Nicconi), Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) and Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree) have all been stakes-placed.
Like in last month’s Gold Trail Stakes, the Soliloquy Stakes winner will pick up 6 points in the Filly of the Year Series race, with 3 points for second and 1.5 for third.
The Super Seth Soliloquy Stakes will be run as Race 5 at Te Rapa on Saturday, with a start time of 2.41pm.
