Luella Cristina Seals NZB Southern Filly of the Year Crown

A courageous run in the Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Warstep Stakes (2000m) at Riccarton on Saturday has seen the Stephen Marsh-trained 𝐋𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 (Snitzel x Lucia Valentina) clinch the honours of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year.

The Cambridge filly went into the race with 4 points, courtesy of her last-start second in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m).

Despite nearly going down at the 600m on Saturday, Luella Cristina picked herself up under Cameron Lammas’ urgings, earning herself another 4 points with a brave runner-up finish, and effectively sealing herself the stunned admiration of her connections and the Southern Filly crown with the effort.

𝐋𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 is bred and raced by Lib Petagna’s Elsdon Park, and she is by champion Australian sire Snitzel out of the multiple Group One-winning mare Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel).

From six starts, 𝐋𝐮𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐚 has now recorded two wins and three black-type placings, including a third in last month’s Group One Levin Classic (1600m).

The NZB Southern Filly of the Year trophy will be presented to Elsdon Park at the South Island Awards in September. Elsdon Park will also receive an insurance policy from NZB Insurance to the value of $50,000 plus GST.