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North Island raider Nikita won the battle in Saturday’s Listed Warstep Stakes at Riccarton but it was Invercargill filly Showemup who won the war as she was crowned New Zealand Bloodstock Southern Filly of the Year.

In a gruelling 2000-metre slog, Showemup (Showcasing) was flattened by an early speed duel and was running on empty in the home straight but still fought her way home to finish third.

Nikita (Shamoline Warrior) and Tuilana (Showcasing) finished over the top of her with Nikita edging out her rival by a neck.

The win was the second of Nikita’s career and boosted the Shaune Ritchie-trained filly’s earnings to $39,675.

In her previous start Nikita (Shamoline Warrior x Springburn by Soviet Lad) had finished fourth behind Showemup in the Listed NZB Airfreight Stakes (1600m).

She is the first stakes winner for her sire Shamoline Warrior, who stands at Bluegables Farm.

Stud owners Judy and Monty Henderson bred and part-own Nikita alongside KRD Racing.

Showemup, who earned seven points for winning the NZB Airfreight Stakes two weeks ago, picked up another 2 for Saturday’s third placing to finish with 9 points and cliam the series win.

Purchased for just $2250 as a weanling at the 2014 National Weanling, Broodmare and Mixed Bloodstock Sale at Karaka, the Sally McKay-trained Showemup has won three races and $69,025 in stakes for owners Dennis and Sally Mullally.

• THE late Shinko King sired his 17th stakes winner when Seventh Up recorded an upset win the G2 Easter Stakes at Ellerslie.

The Shelley Hale-trained six-year-old was having his second start in stakes company having run fourth in the G2 Coupland's Bakeries Mile last November.

He beat Hiflyer (Tavistock) by a long neck with another short head back to Let Me Roar (Rip Van Winkle) in third.

Shinko King died of laminitis at Paxton Park in New Zealand in 2012.

Seventh Up (Shinko King x Regelle by Exploding Prospect) has now won seven of his 16 career starts for prize money earnings of NZ$239,260.

He is one of five winners from the winning mare Regellect including the G2 winner and G1-placed Thumbs Up and the G2 placed Sum Up.

His second dam is the winning mare Pipe Dreams (Mr Illusion), who has produced three winners from six foals to race.

• CAMBRIDGE Stud’s leading stallion Tavistock sired his 12th stakes winner when his 3YO Tavidream won the G2 Championship Stakes at Ellerslie.

Tavideam (Tavistock x Cinnadream by King of Kings) has now won five of his seven career starts and could be heading to Brisbane for the G1 Queensland Derby on June 10.

The three-year-old is raced by a partnership including co-trainer Chris Gibbs and his father John, and he said that several bids for the horse had been made by overseas interests.

"Each time he wins the more the offers come in," said Gibbs, who trains in partnership with Donna Logan at Ruakaka.

Tavidream is one of four named foals out of the winning mare Cinnadream (King Of Kings), all of whom have raced and won including the multiple winner Electric Crimson (Bernardini).

His second dam Sogno (Zabeel) is a sister to the G2 winner Respect, G1-placed Kind Return and Zarzino, dam of Tavistock’s dual G1 winner Tarzino.

Further back in the family are the G1 winners Sky Chase (Star Way) and Kindacross (Cape Cross).

Tavistock’s 12 stakes winners include four G1 winners.