Filly Series Heats Up

Filly Series Heats Up

Boxing Day's Group 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m), the half-way mark of the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series, saw Veloce Bella (Volksraad x Wave to Lottie) emerge as an exciting new candidate for the prestigious title. In front of a huge crowd at Ellerslie, the three-year-old streaked to the lead after a text-book rails ride by Jim Collett, winning by just under a length from the fast finishing Princess Coup (Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road).

In capturing her second Group 2 win the Mark Brosnan trained and Margaret Hardy bred filly has now amassed NZ$162,850 in prize-money from four wins and two placings in just seven starts.

A Daggers Drawn half-brother to Veloce Bella - herself offered at the 2005 Karaka Select Yearling Sale - will be offered by JK Farm at the upcoming 2007 Karaka Select Yearling Sale.

After an earlier second placing in the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One-Thousand Guineas, the Mark Walker-trained Princess Coup earned an additional four points for Tuesday's effort - propelling herself to second on the Series leaderboard.

Irlanda (O'Reilly x Cenphic), winner of the Group 3 Ezibuy Eulogy Stakes (1600m) last start, was a further length-and-a-quarter behind in third, bolstering her points tally to eight - third equal with Veloce Bella.

Although unplaced in the Eight Carat, One-Thousand Guineas winner, Dorabella (Postponed x Caserio) remains the Series leader on 12 points, three ahead of Princess Coup.

Gathering momentum, the next installment in the Series, the $120,000 Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes, is less than a week away at Ellerslie on New Years Day. Both Veloce Bella and Princess Coup are entered for the race and should appreciate the step up to 2000 metres.

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