By Heather Anderson
Te Rapa plays host to the NZ$200,000 G1 Fiber Fresh NZ T'Bred Breeders S. Saturday. The Group 1 finale of the New Zealand racing season sees Mastercraftsman's grey daughters Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) and the China Horse Club's MGSW Mime (NZ) lock horns in the 1600-metre test. Only a scant nostril separated the duo in the Mar. 16 G2 Westbury Classic, with a late lunge by the Jan. 28 G1 Harcourts Thorndon Mile victress Thee Auld Floozie subduing her year-younger rival. A winner of an open handicap at Te Rapa Dec. 10, the Stephen Marsh trainee was runner-up in the Jan. 14 G3 Anniversary H. prior to her two victories.
Thee Auld Floozie's stablemate, G1 Australian Oaks heroine Sofia Rosa (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), returns to the land of her birth after a fifth-place effort in the boggy G1 Ranvet S. on G1 Golden Slipper Day at Rosehill Mar. 18. The bay ran third two back in the G1 WFA Classic going this trip at Otaki Feb. 25.
Rasa Lila (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), a two-time Group 3 winner and MG1SP in 2016, won the G2 Travis S. to end her season last April. She resurfaced with a third in the wake of Kawi (NZ) (Savabeel {Aus}) and Mime (NZ) in the G1 Windsor Park Plate going 1600 metres at Hastings Sept. 17 and was fifth most recently in the G1 Livamol Classic at Hastings in slow going Oct. 1.
Miss Wilson (Aus) (Stratum {Aus}) enters on the back of a four-race winning streak, culminating in the G3 Cuddle S. at Trentham last out Mar. 18. Stylish Attack (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was second and G1SP Charmont (Aus) (High Chaparral {Ire}) third that day.
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