WS Sired Pair fight out NZB Southern Filly Title

In a desperately close finish to the 2015-16 New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year Series, the winner of Saturday’s $50,000 Listed NZB Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton will claim at least a share of the title.

The Series lead is currently shared three ways. Canterbury Belle Stakes winner Windborne (NZ) (Darci Brahma), NZB Airfreight Stakes winner Honor That (NZ) (Darci Brahma) and last weekend’s NZB Insurance Stakes winner No Pushover (NZ) (Pins) each have 7 points.

No Pushover is the only one of the leading fillies in the line-up for Saturday’s final leg of the Series. A win or top-three placing will likely be enough to earn her an outright Series win. On Saturday she faces a rematch with the second and third placegetters in the NZB Insurance Stakes, Goodsav (NZ) (Savabeel) and Deedee Panache (NZ) (Darci Brahma).

But a number of previous placegetters are lining up on Saturday and are well capable of adding a twist to the tale. Goodsav has three points, Princess Davone (NZ) (Iffraaj) has two points and Deedee Panache has one point. All are within striking distance and can make a late charge to claim the title.

The winner of Saturday’s race will earn 7 points, while the runner-up will pick up 3 points and the third placegetter will receive 1 point.

The other nine fillies in Saturday’s race currently have no points to their name, but a Warstep Stakes win would earn them a share of a four-way tie for first place. That result is rare but not unprecedented, having occurred in 2009-10 (Mercury Mistress, Ishiabeel, Brown Eyed Grace, Chaparella) and 2010-11 (Final Touch, Princess Emmy, No Choice, Fast Love).

NZB Release