44th edition of Nevele R Fillies Series underway at Addington

A quality field of nine runners have assembled for the first harness racing heat of the time honoured Nevele R Fillies series tonight (Aug. 26) at Addington Raceway.

Casting an eye over the previous winners of the series will take any history buff on a trip down memory lane.

It leaves you with a clear impression that this is a race reserved for the champion fillies of the track.

From the very first running in 1979 when Dawn Mist (Gentry) upset Speedy Girl, each winner etched into the history books has added to the legacy of the New Zealand studbook in their own unique way.

New Zealand Cup winners such as Armalight and Adore Me, a derby winner in Amazing Dream, and an Auckland Cup winner like Dream About Me jump off the page.

And in some cases, champion fillies not winning the feature gives an indication of just how hard-fought the series will be. The likes of Bonnie’s Chance, Elect To Live, Kiwi Ingenuity, Mainland Banner, and De Lovely have all come unstuck trying to add the Group One to their resume.

Martin Pierson of the Sires Stakes Board is thrilled with the quality field for the first heat of the 44^th edition of the Series.

“The Nevele R Fillies Series is steeped in history and the New Zealand Sires Stakes Board is incredibly proud to be administering this race into its 44^th year.

“I was lucky enough to be there as a young fella when Dawn Mist won the inaugural running of the series, and some wonderful fillies have been associated with the series in the time since,” he said.

Despite only drawing nine runners to the first heat which is conditioned to exclude winners of over $40,000 in lifetime stakes, Pierson is optimistic about the field and what we can expect for the remainder of the series.

“We would have loved a full field, but the reality of our current foal crops being smaller is that it is making it harder to achieve.

“The race will serve as a wonderful entree for the New Zealand Oaks later in the year and with the final now culminating on New Zealand Cup Day, I’m confident we are in for another cracking edition of the series,” he said.

Nevele R Stud principal Ged Mooar is equally excited to be associated with the time-honoured series with the Prebbleton-based stud farm entering its third decade as the series sponsor.

“We’ve been involved with the fillies series since 2001 and it’s something that we are incredibly proud to be a part of.

“It fits brilliantly with our ethos of supporting breeders and giving owners of our future broodmares an opportunity to race for significant stake money and black type when they eventually retire to stud.

“Having the final in our own backyard on Cup Day has only added to the excitement and we look forward to celebrating with the winning connections on the second Tuesday in November,” said Mooar.

For complete race entries, click here.

by Brad Reid, for Harnesslink