The Fillies' quest for Cup day glory starts now

This Friday Addington Raceway holds its "Road to the Cup" race night.

But it also marks the official start of the prestigious 2023 Nevele R Fillies series which will culminate in the $140,000 Group 1 final at Addington on IRT NZ Cup day, Tuesday November 14.

"You look back at past winners and the series is like a roll call of our best three-year-old fillies, Armalight won it in 1980, Kate's First in 1997 and of course she went on to win the Auckland Cup the same year, and horse of the year Carabella was the winner in 2011," says Sires Stakes' Executive Martin Pierson.

"The fillies are always a key part of any build up to Cup week and Cup day itself and this year is no different."

This Friday will see the opening heat of Series 45 - a conditioned heat for Fillies restricted to R70, with lifetime winning stakes of no more than $40,000.

It will be the first of seven heats. The others will be held during September and October, including Hannon Memorial Day at Oamaru on September 17 and "Magic Monday" at Ashburton on October 23rd.

"It's quite an achievement to have this series going for 45 years and it also coincides with Nevele R, who have been a loyal supporter of the series, turning 50 this year," says Pierson.

Founded in 1973, the Canterbury-based stud has been at the forefront of breeding in this country, standing such champion stallions as Holmes Hanover, Falcon Seelster, Live Or Die, Christian Cullen and now Lazarus.

"Nevele R has become absolutely synonymous with this series, it's been quite the partnership," says Pierson.

The 7 heats are :

: Heat 1 (conditioned) Addington - Friday, August 25

: Heat 2 (conditioned) Addington - Friday, September 8

: Heat 3 Auckland - Thursday, September 14

: Heat 4 Oamaru - Sunday, September 17

: Heat 5 Cambridge - Thursday, September 28

: Heat 6 Addington - Thursday,October 5

: Heat 7 Ashburton - Monday, October 23

For more information contact : [email protected]

or go to wwww.nzsirestakes.co.nz