Hastings Racecourse will welcome back the NZB Gold Trail Stakes on Saturday, September 26, with a strong field of three-year-old fillies set to contest the $150,000 Group Three HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders Gold Trail Stakes over 1200m. The race will form the second leg of the 2026-27 NZB Filly of the Year Series.
The NZB Gold Trail Stakes will return to its traditional home after last year’s running was relocated to Ellerslie while Hastings underwent renovations and recambering. The feature will be run as Race 5, with the scheduled start time set for 2.55pm.
Pounce will arrive as the early leader of the NZB Filly of the Year Series after winning the Group Three Sunline Vase over 1200m at Ellerslie earlier this month. The Almanzor filly will carry six points into Saturday’s contest and will look to strengthen her position at the top of the standings.
Silhouette will provide Pounce with another significant challenge after finishing second in the Sunline Vase. The Armory filly will begin the second leg of the series with three points and will have the opportunity to reduce the gap to the current leader with another strong performance.
Dream Roca will also return after finishing third in the Sunline Vase. The El Roca filly will carry 1.5 points into the Hastings feature and will again meet both Pounce and Silhouette over the same distance.
NZB Gold Trail Stakes Brings Leading Fillies Together
The field will also include several fillies arriving with strong recent form. Liguria will bring Group One placing form into the contest, while Hawea will enter after winning the Listed Chittick Family Fillies’ Classic over 1100m at Taupo.
Hawea will provide further interest as she prepares for another stakes assignment. The Hellbent filly will have already shown her ability at black-type level and will face a stronger field at Hastings as she looks to add another significant result to her record.
Perfect Chaos will also arrive with a recent stakes victory. The Hello Youmzain filly will come into the race after winning the Listed Wanganui Guineas over 1200m on August 29. Her recent success will give her a strong platform heading into the Group Three contest.
Actionbelle will add further depth to the line-up after recording a stakes victory of her own. The Bivouac filly will be trained by Ben and Ryan Foote and will face several established performers in what will be another important test for the three-year-old.
Pinafore will also line up after finishing second in the Listed Sir Colin Meads Trophy over 1200m at Hastings on September 12. The Pinatubo filly will bring recent course form into the race and will provide another option among the leading three-year-old fillies.
The race will also feature an interesting rivalry away from the track, with Hawea and Actionbelle connected to two long-serving New Zealand Bloodstock employees. International Bloodstock Manager John Cameron will be involved in the ownership of Hawea, while NZB Insurance Advisor Jim Bruford will have his colours carried by Actionbelle.
The NZB Gold Trail Stakes will carry six points for the winner, three for second and 1.5 for third towards the NZB Filly of the Year Series. Those points will make Saturday’s result particularly significant as the three-year-old fillies continue their campaign through the series.
The race will also return to a venue with a strong history in the series. Previous Gold Trail Stakes winners will have included Snap, Tycoon Lil, Taatletail, Daffodil, Katie Lee, Bounding, Avantage, Imperatriz, Quintessa and Alabama Lass.
Last year’s Gold Trail Stakes was moved to Ellerslie because of the work being carried out at Hastings. Lollapalooza won that running before subsequently finishing among the Group One placegetters and sharing second place in the NZB Filly of the Year Series.
This year’s return to Hastings will bring together the early series leader, the next two fillies in the standings and several runners with recent stakes-winning form. Pounce will have the advantage of already leading the series, while Silhouette and Dream Roca will have the opportunity to close the points gap.
The HBPB Thoroughbred Breeders Gold Trail Stakes will be run as Race 5 at Hastings on Saturday, September 26, with the scheduled start time of 2.55pm.
The NZB Gold Trail Stakes will return to Hastings with Pounce, Silhouette, Dream Roca, Liguria, Hawea, Perfect Chaos, Actionbelle and Pinafore set to contest the Group Three feature and the second leg of the 2026-27 NZB Filly of the Year Series.
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