Fillies Set to Challenge Daffodil's Lead in Desert Gold

Current New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series leader Daffodil lines up in the Group 3 Stella Artois Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday in a bid to retain her lead in the prestigious contest.

Eight points are on offer to the winner with four for the runner-up and two for the third placegetter in the $100,000 race.

Daffodil (No Excuse Needed x Spring, by O'Reilly), winner of the Group 1 New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas, comes off a last start win over 1200 metres at Awapuni on 10 January and heads the 15 filly field. Hayden Tinsley takes the ride for Kevin Gray with the added pressure of overcoming the widest barrier.

John Wheeler's racy youngster Juice (Bertolini x Call Minder, by Christmas Tree) is within striking distance of the lead, sitting in third spot on 13 points, two behind Daffodil's 15. She was runner up to Daffodil in the NZB One Thousand Guineas and has also drawn wide with barrier 14.

Puttanesca (Bertolini x Tesoro, by Prized) gave her owner and breeders Scott and Katie Eagleton of Seaton Park a cracking start to 2009 by winning the Group 2 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes at Ellerslie on 1 January. Reigning champion apprentice James McDonald will retain the ride on the Vanessa and Wayne Hillis-trained filly who has accumulated 9.5 points on the leaderboard.

Just two points behind Puttanesca is the Rogerson, Lucock and Bergerson training partnership's Awesome Planet (Giant's Causeway x Dance on the Moon, by Fasliyev). The Listed Soliloquy Stakes winner will jump from barrier nine under Michael Coleman.

Also with points on the leaderboard is the Roger James and Paul Mirabelli's Glamorous Girl. She finished second to Awesome Planet in the Soliloquy Stakes and recently ran on for an impressive close second to the highly rated Jungle Boots over 1600 metres at Ellerslie.

Already boasting a stakes win at Trentham is the lightly tried Group 2 Wellington Guineas winning filly Skirmish (Le Bec Fin x Jollify by Kingdom Bay). She will be having her sixth start and is to be ridden by her regular race-day partner Robbie Hannam for Hunterville-based trainer Adrian Bull.

Click here for more information on the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series.