Kingsclere Stables

06/01/2026

🍁Autumn Glory made it three wins in a row for the stable today, when successful in the Kamo Club 1400m on debut.

Congratulations to breeders/owners Monovale Holdings Ltd and thanks to Warren Kennedy for another winning ride.

06/01/2026

Two winners in a row and an extra special one for us.

Zivou, won the Hirepool 1200m at Ruakaka with Warren Kennedy on board for Cambridge Stud.

He is a 3yo gelding by Bivouac out of Zonza - who Roger trained to win five races including the Gr.3 MRC Ladies Day Vase in Melbourne.

A new winner on the board for one of our blue hen mares, Zonza, with Zivou hitting the mark fresh up at Ruakaka.

Trained by Kingsclere Stables who also prepared his half-brother Pinarello to Gr.1 success in the Queensland Derby—Zivou delivered a very pleasing performance.

Aided by a typically cool ride from Warren Kennedy, the 3yo son of Bivouac saluted in style and we look forward to what lies ahead for him

06/01/2026

She's still a bit green, but black-type is on the agenda for Waikato Stud filly Waimea Bay.

The 3yo daughter of Savabeel was the impressive winner of the Aotea Electric Northland (1600m) at Ruakaka this afternoon.

Bred by Waikato Stud Ltd, she is raced by Chittick Investments Ltd. Expertly handled by Corentin Berge.

📺: Watch the replay here: https://tinyurl.com/2znzfkdj

02/01/2026

🤦‍♂️😅🤞

02/01/2026

SWEYNESDAY CHUGGING TOWARDS RAILWAY 🚂

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have taken a patient approach with their exciting sprinter Sweynesday, and they could be rewarded with a Group One result in a couple of weeks.

The five-year-old son of Sweyneese extended his impressive form line when reeling in Shoes to win the SkyCity 1200 at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day, setting up a return to the Auckland track on January 24 to contest the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m).

From his wide gate, Sweynesday was forced to travel three-wide without cover for much of the journey, but he got on the back of an improving Silent Is Gold when rounding the final bend.

Shoes, who had set a solid tempo throughout, kicked clear down the home straight, but Sweynesday took chase and under the urgings of jockey Masa Hashizume he was able to reel her in and nab her on the line to win by a head.

“He sat three-wide throughout, he did it tough, but he is a good horse,” Wellwood said. “That’s eight starts now and he hasn’t finished outside the first two.

“The second horse is a talented galloper and had a three-kilo claim as well. He did a good job to pick her up. I am very happy.”

With a record of five wins and three runner-up results from eight career starts, Sweynesday’s trainers believe he is up to the task of taking the step up to stakes grade, and they have circled the Railway on Karaka Millions night as his target.

“Today was a test to see where we were at and with that (performance) it means that he gets a chance there,” Wellwood said.

“I would just love to see him draw a gate, he didn’t have it easy today. He gets in nicely at set weights and penalties in the Railway hence why we didn’t go down to the Telegraph (Gr.1, 1200m) at weight-for-age.

“It was nice to see him do that and it would be pretty special if we could do the same on Karaka Millions night.”

Sweynesday was purchased out of Pertbab Racing’s 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale draft by Eric Koh, King Power and Bevan Smith Bloodstock for $80,000, and he races in the colours of Koh’s Falcon Racing for whom he has earned $192,000 to date. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Sweynesday winning at Ellerslie on New Year's Day.
Photo: Megan Liefting (Race Images)

01/01/2026

He’s a good horse! Sweynesday won the last at Ellerslie today, the Skycity 1200.

The Helen and Mike Moran-bred gelding has now had 8 starts for 5 wins and 3 second placings 🔥.

Congratulations to Falcon Racing who race him and Bevan Smith Bloodstock who purchased him for the group.

Thanks to Masa Hashizume for the winning ride 👏.

28/12/2025

RICH ELLERSLIE PRIZE BECKONS EMERGING MARE

By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Gifted four-year-old She’s A Dealer is in the right order to make a successful challenge for higher honours on New Year’s Day.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained mare is unbeaten this preparation and will bid for a hat-trick of wins when she steps out in the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie.

The daughter of Ace High has won four of her seven starts and finished a gallant fifth in last season’s Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) at Eagle Farm.

“Her work has been terrific and this race comes up at the right time, conditions suit and it’s an appropriate race for her,” Wellwood said.

She’s A Dealer was bred by race sponsor Rich Hill Stud, who race her with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton.

She enjoyed a decent break following her Australian venture and was a dominant resuming winner over 1400m at Ellerslie before she again trounced her Rating 75 rivals over 1500m at Te Rapa.

“She’s very exciting and has been great in her last two starts and it would be nice to see her add black type to her record,” Wellwood said.

The stable will also be double handed in the Gr.2 Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes (2000m) with Dance The Night and Della Ricci to be ideally suited by a rise in trip.

The former broke her maiden in fine style at Pukekohe before the Almanzor filly came from well back to finish fifth in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day.

“Her run the other day pointed toward New Year’s Day and she’s come through the race very well,” Wellwood said.

Ocean Park’s daughter Della Ricci showed good improvement on her debut sixth at New Plymouth when a luckless last-start third over a mile at Matamata.

“She will have blinkers going on and it will suit her down to the ground going 2000m,” Wellwood said.

Young stablemates Incandescent and Spellbound are acceptors in the Gr.2 SkyCity Eclipse Stakes (1200m), but a trip south is also in the mix.

“We could also look at Wellington (Listed JR & N Berkett Wellesley Stakes, 1100m), we’re very happy with both of them,” Wellwood said.

Incandescent made the perfect start to his career at Ellerslie last month with a commanding performance to score over 1100m while Spellbound has already been black type placed when third in the Listed Challenge Stakes (1100m).

Meanwhile, the stable has Road To Paris in the Eagle Technology (1600m) on New Year’s Day, but Trentham on Saturday is the preferred destination.

“Ideally, he will go to the Levin Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) with Ellerslie a back-up in case he didn’t get in at Wellington,” Wellwood said.

“Obviously, he didn’t get any points last time with Masa (Hashizume) coming off and if he gets in the Classic, that’s where he will head.”

The Circus Maximus gelding had the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at his mercy last time out at Otaki before he veered out sharply close to home and dislodged his rider. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸She's A Dealer will contest the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year's Day. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

27/12/2025

The Precursor got the job done at New Plymouth today. Having started his career in Australia he’s been super consistent since arriving in NZ, with two second placings before today’s win.

Congratulations to owner Graham Stewart, and thanks to Craig Grylls for the winning ride 👏.

19/12/2025

Confesara is still a bit green but she’s got her first win on the board today in the first race from Te Rapa and we think she has plenty more in store.

The 3YO daughter of Toronado was runner up in her first to starts and went into today’s race the favourite.

Congratulations to owners Ali and Graeme Andrew and thanks to Matt Cartwright for the successful ride 👏.

15/12/2025

Cosmic Dream was given a dream ride to lead all the way under George Rooke and get her first win pretty comfortably at Trentham yesterday. 💫

The 3yo filly by Cosmic Force was having just her second start but looks to be a filly with a lot of upside over the coming season.

Congratulations to her breeders, and large ownership group, including the Kingsclere Lunching Ladies & Pavillion Racing. Another beautiful ride by in form jock George Rooke 🤞🏻❤️

15/12/2025

ACE HIGH MARE ON TARGET FOR LUCRATIVE PRIZES

A fresh approach will be key to She’s A Dealer’s bid for higher honours during her summer preparation.

The exciting daughter of Ace High confirmed plans for two major targets when she romped to a Rating 75 victory at Te Rapa on Saturday, the fourth victory of her seven-start career.

She’s A Dealer is prepared by Roger James and Robert Wellwood for breeder Rich Hill Stud, who race the mare with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton.

The four-year-old will firstly aim for an appropriate success at northern headquarters on New Year’s Day.

“She’s gone to the next step, I think she has a bright future and might be a spring and autumn horse,” James said.

“I don’t know that the really hard tracks are going to be her friend, but we are planning on racing her at Ellerslie and that doesn’t get too hard, so that might really suit her.

“She’ll go to the Rich Hill Mile (Gr.2, 1600m) and then hopefully the Aotearoa Classic (Gr.3, 1600m).”

She’s A Dealer is also expected to be a major force to be reckoned with when she steps up in trip in time.

“We’re purposefully keeping her as fresh as we can, I have no doubt that her forte will be further than the mile as she proved last season,” James said.

“She is a stronger mare now, but they are worthy of races trying to keep her fresh for.”

Out of the two-time Group One-winning Pentire mare Say No More, She’s A Dealer won twice last season before crossing the Tasman.

Against older opposition, she finished runner-up over 1800m on a heavy Randwick track and was then a creditable fifth on soft ground in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m).

Meanwhile, stablemate Cosmic Dream completed a weekend double for the stable when she was a dominant maiden winner over 1000m at Trentham.

“She was impressive and really kicked away the last bit, so I was pretty happy with her,” James said.

“She jumps and gets travelling very quickly and there’s a three-year-old race over 1200m for her at Ellerslie that we’ll look at.”

James and Wellwood purchased the daughter of Cosmic Force out of Polar Lodge’s draft for $45,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in 2024.

She is out of the Rock Of Gibraltar mare A Little Prayer, whose half-brother Romantic Touch won an edition of the Gr.1 JJ Atkins (1600m).

– By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📷: She's A Dealer winning at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

13/12/2025

She’s A Dealer and she’s selling wins. The four-year-old daughter of Ace High produced back-to-back wins, taking out the last on the card at Te Rapa this afternoon.

Thanks to Sam McNab for the well timed ride.

Congratulations to her ownership group which includes breeders Rich Hill Thoroughbreds as well as Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart & Peter Merton.

Rich Hill Stud