By Heather Anderson
The 1600-metre G1 Gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas, the second leg of the NZB Filly of the Year Series, sees 11 line up for a chance at Classic glory in the Riccarton Park feature on Saturday.
Favored La Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}), a half-sister to 2002 1000 Guineas heroine The Jewel (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), is looking for her third-straight score. She landed the 1200-metre New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle S. Sept. 17 with Berkley Stud Champagne S. heroine Zigwig (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) ninth and doubled up in Ashburton's Listed Barneswood Farm S.–defeating subsequent G1 Sothys 44th New Zealand 2000 Guineas third and second Heroic Valour (Aus) (Fastnet {Aus}) and Savile Row (NZ) (Makfi {GB})–last time going 1400-metres Oct. 15. The sparsely raced Sweepstake (NZ) (Per Incanto) ran a credible fourth, just behind in that contest.
Astara (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}), already proven going this trip when setting a new national record for a 2-year-old covering 1600 metres in the Listed Champagne S. this April, is another who enters the 1000 Guineas on the back of a stakes victory, in this case in the Listed Dunstant Feeds Soliloquy S. at Ellerslie Oct. 22 defeating several of these. MGSP Glass Slipper (NZ) (Pins {Aus}) and GSP Mystery Show (NZ) (Sakhee's Secret {GB}) finished second and third, respectively, with Sept. 3 Listed O'Leary's Fillies S. victress Its Time for Magic (NZ) (Per Incanto) seventh.
Regarding Glass Slipper, co-trainer Lance O'Sullivan told racingnews.co.nz, “We're really happy with her. But let's not get carried away because she's still a maiden and that South Island filly [La Diosa] will proabably give them a flogging. But the placings are up for grabs and if she could do that, then we'd be very happy. [Co-trainer] Andrew [Scott] has travelled down with her and he's really happy with her. She's bright and she's improved a bit since that Ellerslie run.”
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