Hawke’s Bay will resume its traditional position as an early spring stepping stone in the NZB Filly of the Year Series with the running of Saturday’s $150,000 Group Three HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders Gold Trail Stakes (1200m) at Hastings.
The Gold Trail Stakes is the second leg of the prestigious Filly of the Year Series for the 2026-27 racing season. Saturday’s winner will earn 6 points, with 3 for second and 1.5 for third.
One of the iconic feature races of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival, the Gold Trail Stakes has been a springboard to bigger things for the likes of Snap (NZ) (Kingdom Bay), Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon), Taatletail (NZ) (Faltaat), Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed), Katie Lee (Pins), Bounding (Lonhro), Avantage (Fastnet Rock), Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) and Alabama Lass (Alabama Express).
However, with Hastings closed for more than a year for renovations and recambering, last year’s Gold Trail was relocated to Ellerslie, where it was won by subsequent Group One placegetter and equal NZB Filly of the Year Series runner-up Lollapalooza (NZ) (El Roca).
On Saturday the race returns to its traditional home, where it has drawn an exciting field of three-year-old filly talent.
Following the running of the Group Three Sunline Vase (1200m) at Ellerslie earlier this month, that race’s winner Pounce (NZ) (Almanzor) heads the NZB Filly of the Year standings with 6 points. Second placegetter Silhouette (NZ) (Armory) has 3 points, and Queensland filly Dream Roca (NZ) (El Roca) has 1.5l
Those three fillies will all line up for a rematch on Saturday, where they will be joined by the likes of Group One placegetter Liguria (NZ) (Snitzel) and last-start stakes winners Hawea (Hellbent), Perfect Chaos (NZ) (Hello Youmzain) and Actionbelle (NZ) (Bivouac).
The HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders Gold Trail Stakes will be run as Race 5 at Hastings on Saturday, with a scheduled start time of 2.55pm.
