The seventh leg of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Filly of the Year Series is the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic at Te Rapa on Saturday.
The 2000m event is the third-to-last leg in the series of 10 races with 10 fillies looking to accumulate points towards becoming named Filly of the Year in the 2014-15 season.
Winner of two legs already is Platinum Witness (California Dane), who is currently in the lead with 18 points.
Platinum Witness most recently won the G3 Desert Gold Stakes, earning 6 points following triumph in the G1 NZB 1000 Guineas in November.
Trained by Lisa Latta, she will start from barrier 9 with Darryl Bradley riding.Currently in second in the NZB Filly of the Year Series is Saavoya sitting on 16 points. The daughter of Savabeel has won her last two starts including winning the fourth and fifth legs of the series consecutively, the G2 Eight Carat Classic and the G2 Royal Stakes.
Saavoya has drawn barrier 5 and will be ridden by Craig Grylls for trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.Placing in the first three in all of her seven starts is three-year-old filly Vavasour. The Redoute’s Choice filly finished second behind Saavoya in her last start on New Year’s Day in the G2 Royal Stakes after winning her two starts prior.
From the stable of Peter and Dawn Williams at Byerley Park, she will commence the race from barrier 6 with jockey Leith Innes.Exquisite Jewel , by Lucky Unicorn, trained by Sue Walsh and Bruce Gregory, has had three wins from her nine starts.
She finished third at her last start in the G3 Desert Gold Stakes. Robert Hannam will ride Exquisite Jewel from barrier 2.With three points in the NZB Filly of the Year Series Tavy has produced two wins from her five starts, including winning the Listed Trevor Eagle Memorial 3YO. The Tavistock filly will begin from barrier 8, ridden by Chris Johnson for trainer Roger James.
Charmont (High Chaparral) has made four race day appearances, including one win.Her last start saw her step up to 2000m where she finished third in the G2 Royal Stakes. Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, Charmont will start from barrier 7 with Opie Bosson riding.
Fastnet Rock filly Palace Rock has placed in six of her ten starts, including one win. She is the second runner for Peter and Dawn Williams and will start from barrier 4 with Mark Du Plessis riding.The third runner from Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman’s stable is De Kensington Oval (Red Giant). Winning as a two-year-old, she finished two starts ago behind rival Vavasour before falling in the Royal Stakes. Ridden by Vinnie Colgan she will start from barrier 3.
The lightly raced Realta has had four starts and broke maidens at her second start. The daughter of Red Giant finished third in her last start over 2100m.Trained by Lance Noble, Realta will start from barrier 1 with Michael Coleman.
Last start winner Sonsy (Thorn Park) is having her fifth raceday appearance for trainer Jason Bridgman. She will be ridden by Te Akau Racing’s stable rider Matthew Cameron from barrier 10.The winner of the Cambridge Stud Sir Tristram Fillies Classic will receive 8 points towards the NZB Filly of the Year Series, second place will earn 4 points and third place will earn 2 points.
