Girls Day Out

Preparing for the $110,000 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 12 February at Te Rapa, three-year-old fillies Belle En Rouge (Burgundy) and Self Obsession (Shocking) galloped together on the course between races last week.

Freshened since winning the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m) on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, Belle En Rouge (3 f Burgundy - Cavendish Belle, by Thorn Park) was ridden by Opie Bosson, while Self Obsession (3 f Shocking - Mawaakib, by O'Reilly), winner of the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) on 1 January at Ellerslie, had Michael McNab aboard.

“They've both had a freshen-up since winning at Christmas/New Year at Ellerslie, and seem in good shape,” said trainer Jamie Richards, who won corresponding Fillies Classic last year with subsequent NZ Oaks (Gr. 1, 2400m) winner and NZB Filly of the Year Amarelinha (Savabeel).

“They're going in on the fresh side, with a longer term view toward the Oaks. They had to have a break at some stage, but they seem forward enough to run well and hopefully show natural improvement as they head toward the Lowland Stakes (Gr. 2, 2100m) or Sunline Vase (Gr. 2, 2100m) leading up to the Oaks.”

Owned by the Te Akau Beautiful in Red Racing Partnership (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM), Belle En Rouge was bred by David Ellis CNZM & Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM, and has recorded three wins, a second, and two thirds, from seven starts.

Belle En Rouge produced terrific third to stable-mate The Perfect Pink (Savabeel) in 1000 Guineas (Gr. 1, 1600m) - delivering a Te Akau first four home - on 13 November at Riccarton, was freshened to win the Eulogy Stakes (Gr. 3, 1600m) on 11 December at Awapuni, and took the lead in the New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series with another stellar performance in the Eight Carat Classic (Gr. 2, 1600m).

In training for owner/breeder David Price, Self Obsession (3 f Shocking - Mawaakib, by O'Reilly) sustained an increasingly strong gallop to easily win a Maiden 1600 metres on 10 December at Tauranga, before a tremendous step up in the Royal Stakes (Gr. 2, 2000m) at her third start.