Promising Zabeel filly Zurella stamped herself as a leading NZ Derby/Oaks contender at Awapuni on Saturday when winning the fourth leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, the $70,000 G3 Eulogy Stakes (1600m).
Trained by Shaune Ritchie, Zurella (Zabeel x Doneze Girl) came into the race off back-to-back victories and with jockey Lisa Allpress aboard, the three-year-old raced put in a big finish to win by half a length.
Zurella's record now stands at three wins from four starts and she looks a classic type holding nominations for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby and NZ Oaks in March next year.
Her win gives her six points in NZB's Filly of the Year Series and a share of third place with Anabandana (Anabaa) and Testa Secret (Testa Rossa).
A daughter of Zabeel, Zurella became the champion sire's 138th individual stakes winner.
Zabeel also saw another promising daughter, the three-year-old Zonza, put in a solid late run for second in the Listed Mad Butcher Champion Stakes Prelude (2100m) at Ellerslie.
Zurella was bred by Karreman Bloodstock and is raced by The Oaks Stud. She has a half-sister in the 2012 Karaka Premier Sale, the filly by Sakhee's Secret at Lot 171 from The Oaks Stud.
Second placed Testa Secret (ex Acacian Secret) continues to show her resounding toughness for trainer Kevin Gray.
She was caught wide and forced to press to the front at the 800 metres and boxed on when challenged at the 300 metres to finish just half a length from the winner.
It was Testa Secret's third stakes placing this season after running second to Dowager Queen (Savabeel) in the O'Leary's Fillies Stakes and Anabandana in the Group 3 Gold Trail Stakes, the first leg of NZB's Filly of the Year Series.
The daughter of Testa Rossa earned three points in Saturday's race taking her to six points and a share of third place in the Series.
The blue-blooded filly Capital Diamond (Lucky Unicorn x Diamond Smile), who ran third in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock 1000 Guineas, raced on the pace and was tough in the concluding stages to hang onto third.
Holding a nomination for the Group 1 New Zealand Oaks, she takes 1.5 points from the race and moves to fourth place with five Series points.
The next leg of New Zealand Bloodstock's Filly of the Year Series, the $100,000 Group 2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), will be held at Ellerslie on 26 December.
