Kingsclere Stables

27/08/2024

SUDBINA SPRINGS INTO NEW CAMPAIGN AT CAMBRIDGE

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Group Three winner Sudbina will make her raceday return at Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday, kicking off her new campaign in the Majestic Horse Floats 1300.

A daughter of Almanzor, Sudbina won a trio of races through her three-year-old term highlighted by success in the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) over subsequent Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) winner Grail Seeker.

She was also fourth behind the likes of Lupo Solitario and her high-flying stablemate Orchestral in the Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) and had the same result behind Molly Bloom in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic (2000m).

Roger James, who prepares Sudbina in partnership with Robert Wellwood, was more than happy with her overall performance in a period of learning for both the filly and her trainers.

“I thought she had a wicked season, she’s only a wee girl and was learning her trade as she went, and we were learning about her,” James said.

“To do what she did was excellent really, she’s won a Desert Gold and fourth in a Bonecrusher, so she’s done very well.

“She’s got plenty of length and scope about her, she’s never going to be big but she’s got a decent stride on her and I think we will look to place her carefully later on, where she doesn’t have to carry too much weight.”

Sudbina brings a class factor to the Rating 75 contest where apprentice Triston Moodley will claim two kilograms off her 57-kilogram impost, in a race James sees as a nice starting point for the spring.

“She hasn’t had a trial, so whatever she does on Wednesday, you would think there would be quite a lot of improvement there, but class does often come through and she does know the synthetic having trialled on it before,” he said.

“She’s too good to not be in the hunt, but whether she can win, that’s another question.

“A mile is possibly her best distance but who knows, she’s still getting there maturity-wise and I don’t see her being a mature horse until the autumn.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Sudbina will contest Wednesday's Majestic Horse Floats 1300 at Cambridge. Photo: Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)

25/08/2024

We love seeing our former racehorses excel in their second careers. Congrats Georgie! ❤️

Congrats to Georgie & Contemplation (by So You Think, winner of 2 on the track and earnings of 130k when racing for the super Kingsclere Stables), for winning their first ESNZ event of the season. 🥇

Contemplation has also had successes in his first level 1 dressage starts too with impressive scores of 70 & 77%! 👏

Photo purchased from Michelle Clarke. 📸

24/08/2024

RIP Kevin. Our thoughts are with Jo and Kevin’s family and friends at this sad time. 💛

Valachi Downs principal Kevin Hickman has passed away.  Photo: Trish Dunnell Industry mourns Kevin Hickman Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk 23 August 2024 The New Zealand thoroughbred industry has lost one of its most influential figures of the last two decades with the passing of Kevin Hic...

21/08/2024

JAMES DELIGHTED WITH OUTSTANDING ORCHESTRAL

By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Roger James gave his seal of approval to glamour mare Orchestral following her hit-out at Taupo on Wednesday.

The Cambridge trainer, who prepares the daughter of Savabeel with Robert Wellwood, was more than happy with her performance in an 1100m heat of the Fiber Fresh Group Trials held before the race meeting.

“We came here with a job to do and achieved that. We’ve been pretty careful with her, she had a big puff afterwards and she’ll probably go to Ellerslie to trial again,” James said.

The dual Group One winner sat wide at the back of the field before picking up ground and worked home in tidy fashion to finish third.

“That was very nice, she jumped quite well and there wasn’t a lot of pace and I was caught out on a limb,” rider Craig Grylls said.

“She came off the bridle turning in and then got home well. She has definitely strengthened, it’s brilliant the way she is coming up.”

The trial was won by the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained Captured By Love, who lobbed along in second spot for Opie Bosson before running down her pace-making stablemate Dream Of The Moon.

Written Tycoon filly Captured By Love won the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) and the Gr.3 Taranaki 2YO Classic (1200m) last season and was also a two-time Group One placegetter.

“It was a really good trial and we’ll look at the Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) all going well,” Bergerson said.

“Dream Of The Moon could potentially go to the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m), again with a watch on the weather.”

Crocetti tightened in the market for the Gr.1 Tarzino Trophy (1400m) to a dominant $2.20 favourite following his all the way 1100m trial victory.

Last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) winner will bid to retain his unbeaten four-year-old record on the opening day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival following his recent resuming victory.

“He’s come through it (Ruakaka) very well. I just wanted to give him a nice gallop and it was a good outing for him heading toward Hastings,” co-trainer Danny Waker said.

Regular rider Warren Kennedy is confident Crocetti will strip in prime order for the Tarzino.

“He is in a fantastic spot and he will be ready in a couple of weeks,” he said.

“He pricked his ears all the way and he was just waiting for something to come at him, and when it did he kicked into another gear.”

The opening heat at Taupo was claimed by the frontrunning Faraglioni with last season’s Gr.1 TAB Classic (1600m) runner-up on target to take on Crocetti in the Tarzino.

“She needed that hit-out and she’ll run in the Tarzino and then we’ll reassess from there,” trainer Josh Shaw said.

“Last season was beyond expectations, and she should be in for another good one.”

Faraglioni accounted for Grail Seeker, also bound for Hastings carnival, and the reigning Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes champion Move To Strike who may resume in the Listed El Roca – Sir Colin Meads Trophy (1200m).

Quality mare Pearl Of Alsace has all three of the Hawke’s Bay features on her program and she left co-trainer Shaun Ritchie a touch disappointed after she finished fifth in the heat.

“I expected a little better, she was a bit keen early and got very tired late,” he said.

“She will take improvement and will need to. She’ll run in the Tarzino and the last leg (the Gr.1 Livamol Classic, 2040m) is her grand final.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸Multiple Group One winner Orchestral with Michaela Sobieská at Taupo. Photo: Trish Dunell

19/08/2024

Sad news for the team this week with Mark Twain ruled out of the spring. LOVERACING.NZ News Desk reports below.

MARK TWAIN OUT OF MELBOURNE CUP

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Mark Twain, New Zealand’s leading hope for this year’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m), has been ruled out of spring racing with a tendon strain.

The five-year-old gelding gained automatic entry into the iconic race with victory in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington in March, which followed his placing in the Gr.2 Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie earlier that month.

Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood were excited about campaigning their charge in Melbourne this spring, however, those dreams have been dashed after the five-year-old pulled up with an injury over the weekend.

“He has suffered a setback, he has got a slight tendon strain,” James said. “He presumably did it when working on Saturday morning.

“He will probably be off the scene for some time. To rehabilitate 100 percent from a tendon strain he probably wouldn’t be seen in public for 12 months.

“It is gutting for the stable and all of his connections as well.”

Mark Twain was bred by Taikorea Thoroughbreds Ltd and is raced by Australian syndicator OTI Racing.

While one spring campaign has ended, James is looking forward to commencing the preparations of his stable’s two other leading lights, Orchestral and Dionysus, in the Fiber Fresh Group Trial (1100m) at Taupo on Wednesday.

“They are in lovely order,” James said. “We have got ideas on what we might do, but everything runs off the trial and what they do there.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸Mark Twain has been ruled out of a Melbourne Cup campaign with a tendon injury. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

08/08/2024

🤩 A fantastic result for the Skipper family and we look forward to following the stud career of Prowess.

Trans-Tasman Group One winner Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) became the fifth mare to break the million-dollar barrier on Gavelhouse Plus when she sold for $1,452,500 on the online platform on Thursday eve…

07/08/2024

Our star mare Prowess is currently at $800,000 on gavelhouse.com Plus the auction closes from 7pm tonight. How much will she make?

02/08/2024

JAMES SALUTES PROWESS AS GAVELHOUSE PLUS AUCTION BEGINS

As the eagerly anticipated auction of Prowess gets underway on Gavelhouse Plus, Roger James has described the multiple Group One winner as one of the finest horses to grace his respected Cambridge stable.

Trained by James in partnership with Robert Wellwood, Prowess recorded eight wins and three placings in a career that spanned only 12 starts.

A nine-length win at Wanganui as an autumn two-year-old set the scene for a spectacular three-year-old campaign that included consecutive victories in the Group Two Auckland Guineas (1600m), the Karaka Million 3yo Classic (1600m), the Group Two David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), the Group One New Zealand Stakes (2050m) and Sydney’s Group One Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m). She later added the Group Two Crystal Mile (1600m) at Moonee Valley in the spring of her four-year-old season.

Prowess was bought by James and Wellwood for $230,000 from the Book 1 draft of breeders Hallmark Stud at Karaka 2021. She earned more than $1.65 million for a family syndicate headed by Dean and Janie Skipper.

“I’ve been lucky to have a number of high-class horses through my stable, and she was right up in the very top category,” James commented this week.

“Her career was just highlight after highlight. She scored a scintillating win against an elite field in the Karaka Million 3yo Classic, then became the first three-year-old filly to win the New Zealand Stakes at weight-for-age since Tidal Light in the late ‘80s. And then, of course, she carried on across to Sydney and dominated the Vinery. She was something quite special.

“On top of what she showed on the racetrack, she was just a fabulous horse to do anything with and is an exquisite physical specimen.”

A full-sister to Prowess topped Book 1 of Karaka 2024 earlier this year with a purchase price of $1.6 million, and gavelhouse.com’s Haylie Martin reported that there has been huge interest in the lead-up to the online auction of the trans-Tasman Group One star.

“There have been plenty of top judges at Lyndhurst Farm over the past couple of weeks to inspect her and the resounding feedback is that she’s nigh on impossible to fault, needless to say we’re looking forward to the week ahead,” she said.

The auction of Prowess is underway now on Gavelhouse Plus and is set to close from 7pm (NZT) on Thursday 8 August. – NZ Racing Desk

📸: Angelique Bridson.

31/07/2024

MARK TWAIN MAKES FIRST STEP TOWARDS CUP

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Mark Twain took the first step in a long road leading to the Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) with an exhibition gallop between races at Tauranga on Wednesday.

The son of Shocking earned his place in the iconic November feature with victory in the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) in March, with his first public appearance off a spell pleasing co-trainer Roger James.

“I was very happy with the way he worked and the way he pulled up,” said James, who trains in partnership with Robert Wellwood.

“With the weather conditions, we’ve been very careful with him at home, and I wanted what we did today to bring him forward, not knock him. They are often pretty vulnerable when they’re three-quarters ready, so we have to be pretty careful.

“Masa Hashizume rode him and he couldn’t have ridden him better for what we were wanting. He went 1200m going 15 seconds through the first three furlongs, then worked home in 38.4. He was still picking up and working through the line, he went right around past the gates at the 1400m.

“He trotted him all the way back around, and by the time he got back to me, he was only just having a healthy blow and nothing that would indicate he had been over-extended.

“That should bring him on greatly.”

James said Mark Twain would be Melbourne-bound at short notice, with nominations for the Gr.1 Arrowfield Stud Plate (1600m) and Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2050m) a back-up plan for the gelding.

“Hastings is a back-up, you never know with horses what is around the corner tomorrow but it’s not our first intention,” he said.

“At this stage, he will most likely run first-up in Melbourne on the 24th of August over 1500 metres after a trial (in New Zealand).” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Mark Twain during his exhibition gallop at Tauranga on Wednesday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

OTI Racing

29/07/2024

A wonderful view recapping Orchestral's outstanding season and it is very fitting the video features Michaela Sobieská, winner of the Equine Handling Award at last night's Entain Industry Excellence Awards.

Michaela is a huge asset to our team and we couldn't be prouder to see her hard work recgonised with this award.

19/07/2024

🌟 We had so many highlights with Prowess on the racetrack and we’re looking forward to following her career as a broodmare.

18/07/2024

HIGH CLASS MARE PROWESS COMING UP FOR SALE ON GAVELHOUSE PLUS

A special standalone sale on Gavelhouse Plus will give breeders a rare opportunity to secure a trans-Tasman Group One winner.
The auction of Prowess will run from the 2nd to the 8th of August on Gavelhouse Plus.

Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood for a family syndicate headed by Dean Skipper, Prowess won eight of her 12 starts including five consecutive black-type victories as a three-year-old.

Prowess was a $230,000 yearling purchase at Karaka in 2021 from the draft of breeders Hallmark Stud, and she turned that into more than $1.65 million in prizemoney in her glittering career.

“She’s taken us on an amazing ride and it’s definitely a shame that it’s coming to an end,” Skipper said. “We have some mixed emotions about putting her up for sale.

“But the way we look at it is that we were just so fortunate to have had one as good as her, and now she’s ready to go on to the next stage of her career.

“She’s fit and well and a happy horse. She could probably even have made it back to the racetrack if we wanted to wait a bit longer. But she’s at a premium stage of her life to start her breeding career now, and we always set it up so that we would sell her at around this time and have her in the best possible condition for that.”

Prowess was at the forefront of the meteoric rise of her sire Proisir, whose service fee soared from $17,500 to $70,000 after siring five Group One winners in a single season in 2022-23 – trans-Tasman stars Prowess and Legarto, plus elite New Zealand winners Levante, Pier and Dark Destroyer.

Proisir has gone on to achieve blockbuster Book 1 averages of $188,947 at Karaka 2023 and $274,444 at Karaka 2024. The esteem for Prowess, her family and her sire was spectacularly illustrated in January when a full-sister to Prowess topped the Book 1 sale at $1.6 million.

“It was unbelievable to see the full-sister sell for such a big price at Karaka earlier in the year,” Skipper said. “It shows how highly the family is regarded now, and it’s a great reward for the hard work that Mark Baker and the Hallmark team have put in.

“Based on that, I guess we could say that we got Prowess quite cheaply in hindsight. But it was still quite a heady price to pay at the time.”

Prowess wasted no time in making that $230,000 purchase price look like a worthwhile investment. She made a big impression with a trial win at Taupo as an autumn two-year-old in April 2022, then backed that up on raceday with a runaway romp by nine lengths at Wanganui in her only juvenile start.

“We knew from quite early on that we might have something a bit special on our hands,” Skipper said. “Robert Wellwood texted me after the trial, telling me to watch the replay and then give him a call. I figured she must have done something, and I was blown away when I watched it.

“Then we were on course at Wanganui for her debut, and we were a bit overwhelmed when she won it the way she did. We didn’t even really celebrate – we were just awestruck.”

But it was as a three-year-old that Prowess really made her name. After spring placings in the Group Three Soliloquy Stakes (1400m) and against males in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), Prowess embarked on a winning sequence that spanned five feature races between New Year’s Day and the end of March.

She kicked off with a comfortable win in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1600m), then produced a scintillating turn of foot to stun a star-studded field in the $1 million Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).
After returning to three-year-old fillies’ company with a five-length romp in the Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m), Prowess took on older horses at weight-for-age and recorded a rare win by a three-year-old filly in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m).

James and Wellwood then set their sights on Sydney, and Prowess produced perhaps the most impressive performance of her career with a three-length blitz in the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill.

An injury-curtailed four-year-old campaign saw Prowess win the Group Two Crystal Mile (1600m) in Melbourne and place in the Gr.3 Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

“We started to realise just how good she was when she won the Auckland Guineas, and it was a picket fence from there and she just kept raising the bar,” Skipper said.

“Roger James has been training for a long time and has had some great horses in his stable, so when he started saying she was up there with the best he’d ever trained, it was incredibly exciting.

“One thing about her career that was very special was that we managed to capture the attention of a few people who weren’t previously into racing. They got behind her and were opening up TAB accounts so that they could bet on her. That was another part of the experience that we really enjoyed.

“It was just so much fun and we can’t thank everyone enough – the vets, the farriers and all the team at Kingsclere Stables. They’re the ones getting up at 3am and putting in all that hard work. We just paid the bills and got to enjoy the end result.

“She gave us some incredible memories, and now we’re looking forward to seeing what she can do in the broodmare paddock.”

18/07/2024

LIGHT SPRING PLANNED FOR TOP-CLASS ORCHESTRAL

By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Star performer Orchestral won’t be over-taxed during her spring preparation, with trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood more focussed on longer-term targets with their stable star.

The daughter of Savabeel has returned to work with the Cambridge trainers following her outstanding three-year-old season.

Orchestral put together five wins on the bounce, including the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), and was spelled after finishing third in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

“She’s very well and enjoying being back in the stable, so it’s exciting heading forward,” Wellwood said.

“We’ve got three different plans, one is Sydney, one is Melbourne and the other is New Zealand.

“It can be a very hard time for a four-year-old spring mare, she had a big three-year-old season so we will be reasonably conservative with her.

“Plans will be firmed up more once we have got her through to a trial and see what the weather is doing in each jurisdiction.

“There are good options for her, but we will really be focussing on some exciting races in the autumn and have to be a bit patient with her in the spring.”

Meanwhile, the stable will have a quiet weekend, with the Irish-bred mare Samoot their only representative.

The well-travelled daughter of Dubawi faces an important assignment in the Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth on Saturday.

The mare is owned by Australian Bloodstock and relocated to New Zealand with one aim.

“The master plan was for her to come across and get some black type and this is a great opportunity for her,” Wellwood said.

“It would be lovely to get some black type for her, she’s got a good page and it would make her a pretty desirable asset to have in anyone’s broodmare band.

“We haven’t had a huge involvement with Australian Bloodstock, but we appreciate their support and just hope we can get the job done for them and continue the relationship.”

Samoot is a daughter of the multiple stakes-winning Red Ransom mare Muthabara and she is out of a three-quarter sister to Bahhare, who sired Group One winners Hurrah and Dowry during his time in New Zealand.

Samoot was twice successful from Sir Michael Stoute’s Newmarket stable before she was purchased by Australian Bloodstock and doubled her winning tally for trainer Kris Lees.

The six-year-old has placed in two of her four runs in New Zealand, including a last-start resuming second at Hastings last month. Masa Hashizume takes the ride at the weekend.

“She’s had decent form in Australia, it’s probably been a while since we’ve seen that but her form here hasn’t been that bad and she’s going to get her chance on Saturday,” Wellwood said.

“She needed the last run and got held up at the top of the straight and she’s derived good benefit from that.

“The worst thing is that she’s drawn wide (12) and it will dictate a bit on how we ride her.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸 Group One-winning filly Orchestral.
Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

05/07/2024

Sonnet was on song at Awapuni today, bringing up her second consecutive win.

It was a case of same track, same distance, same jockey and she delivered.

Congratulations to owner/ breeder Rob Johnstone and thanks to jockey Lemmy Douglas for again getting the best out of her.

🎥 replay: https://rb.gy/gdh9vk

03/07/2024

We’re very honoured to be a part of this international tour.

Bring on the first Tuesday of November! 🤞🤞🤞

The 2024 Melbourne Cup Tour made its way to the Waikato this week, with the coveted trophy appearing at Cambridge Trackwork and Kingsclere Stables to visit C...

02/07/2024

🏆 🤩

01/07/2024

MELBOURNE CUP VISIT WHETS APPETITE FOR CAMBRIDGE TRAINERS

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

The 2024 Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour made its way to Cambridge on Monday and local trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood got their first glimpse at the iconic trophy they hope to get their hands on at Flemington on the first Tuesday in November.

The Cambridge horsemen have a guaranteed spot in the race that stops two nations courtesy of Mark Twain after he won the ballot exempt Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at the Melbourne track in March.

James has tasted plenty of success at elite-level, but the Melbourne Cup has eluded him to date, having just had the one previous runner in Railings, while his multiple Group One winner Silent Achiever was ruled out of the Cup at the 11th hour 11 years ago with injury.

James said the Melbourne Cup is the pinnacle in Australasian racing and he is excited to have a lightweight chance in this year’s edition of the time-honoured race.

“For anyone that is involved in racing, the Melbourne Cup is the one race that stands out in Australasia,” James said.

“Anybody that is not involved in racing knows about the Melbourne Cup as well. It has built a name over the years that is steeped in history and to be able to have a runner in it is a privilege.”

James has been happy with the way Mark Twain has returned from his spell and said they have time to iron out some issues with his racing manners, which were showcased in his Roy Higgins win, prior to the Cup.

“He is in the early stages (of his preparation) but he is where we want him,” James said. “He is a late maturing horse, and he is getting there, and I think he will strengthen through the programme.

“He has been capable of doing a bit wrong on race day, but I don’t think they are problems that we can’t remedy. He won’t be in the same gear that he raced in that (Roy Higgins) day, but we haven’t decided what he will race in yet.”

Mark Twain’s entire Melbourne Cup preparation will take place across the Tasman, and James said a lengthy duration in Melbourne poses no concerns.

“He will probably have three, maybe four runs in the build-up (to the Melbourne Cup) and we have got the job of peaking him on his day, and he should get in with a nice weight,” he said.

“It (first run) will be in Melbourne. I think it is just too risky to stay here and there is a lot of travel involved and a lot of wet tracks.

“I just think he is better to get over there. He enjoyed the atmosphere in the stable over there once he got there in the autumn and I have no worries about having him there for a length of time.”

While looking forward to having his second runner in the Melbourne Cup, James said it will be good to share the experience with his training partner.

“For somebody of his age to win a Cup it would be phenomenal,” James said.

A victory in the Melbourne Cup by Mark Twain would be fitting, having been named after the American author, who in 1895 went to Flemington and saw the three-year-old filly Auraria win the Melbourne Cup and penned the lines after the event: ”Nowhere in the world have I encountered a festival of people that has such a magnificent appeal to a whole nation. The Melbourne Cup is Australasian National Day. I can call to mind no specialised annual day in any country whose approach fires the whole land with a conflagration of conversation and preparation and anticipation and jubilation. The Cup astonishes me."

This year’s Lexus Melbourne Cup Tour is travelling to 39 destinations in six nations, including New Zealand, Australia, Japan, USA, United Kingdom and Ireland. The Cup is being accompanied by Tour Ambassador and three-time Melbourne Cup-winning jockey Damien Oliver, who was impressed with Mark Twain when visiting Cambridge on Monday.

“I was really impressed by his win in the Roy Higgins at Flemington. It looked like the second coming of Kiwi (1983 Melbourne Cup winner) launching down that straight,” he said. “Even seeing him in the flesh here today, he looks great, his coat looks fantastic for the middle of winter. We know how good a horseman Roger is, so I am sure he is going to get the chance to show his best on the first Tuesday in November.”

Having ridden Doriemus (1995), Media Puzzle (2002), and Fiorente (2013) to victory in the great race, Oliver knows what it takes to be a Melbourne Cup winner, and he said Mark Twain will need to improve his racing manners ahead of November.

“He is going to get a pretty light weight, he has raced really well on the course, although he probably needs to get his race manners a little bit better than what he showed there (Roy Higgins),” Oliver said.

“He is a young horse and I think there is obviously improvement to come with him, but in a race like the Melbourne Cup you can’t afford to do too much wrong. He will need to mend his ways a little bit, but he looks like he has got some raw ability there and I am sure Roger has got a bit of time up his sleeve to get the best out of him.”

New Zealand has a rich history in the Melbourne Cup, with Kiwi-breds having won the race on 44 occasions, and James and Wellwood are hoping they can extend that to 45 in November. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸Mark Twain pictured with co-trainer Roger James, strapper Matthew Ivil, Tour Ambassador Damien Oliver and co-trainer Robert Wellwood.
Photo: Angelique Bridson

01/07/2024

We think it suits him too 😉

An honour to have the Melbourne Cup visit the stable, nothing like seeing the famed trophy in person for some added motivation!

21/06/2024

The trip to Awapuni was well worth it with Sonnet clearing maiden ranks in style.

The 3yo daughter of Charm Spirit was given a top ride from Lemmy Douglas who picked a path through runners to fly home and win by three lengths.

Congratulations to her breeder/owner Rob Johnstone 👏👏

🎥 Watch the replay here: https://rb.gy/p15sh2

15/06/2024

Itza Charmdeel recorded his third win for his team of owners today at Te Rapa. Congratulations 👏

Great ride by Sam Weatherley who timed his run to perfection. 👌

29/05/2024

IN-FORM APOSTROPHE ON QUEENSLAND SHORT LIST

By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Late bloomer Apostrophe executed a near perfect domestic autumn campaign to put herself in line for a trip to the Queensland winter carnival.

While the overseas venture has yet to be locked in, the daughter of Tavistock is a strong contender to be given the opportunity to chase Australian black-type and further boost her future broodmare value.

“We have freshened her a bit and there is a Listed mile on June 15 and a Listed fillies and mares’ race over 2100m on the 29th for her,” said Roger James, who trains Apostrophe with Robert Wellwood.

The Eagle Farm events on the radar are The Wayne Wilson and the Tattersalls Gold Crown.

“Nothing is certain at this stage. I’ve got to be happy with her work and happy in every way but it’s certainly a strong possibility,” James said.

Apostrophe finished runner-up in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m) three runs back before claiming the Gr.3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes (2100m) and the Gr.2 Travis Stakes (2000m).

“She was very, very good and has come of age as a six-year-old,” James said.

“She is feeding better now than she has for her whole life, she had always been a poor feeder before and is just coping so well.

“Providing I am happy with her, it (Brisbane) is a distinct possibility.”
Apostrophe has won seven races from 1400m to 2100m from just 21 appearances, although it hasn’t all been plain sailing.

“She hasn’t been the soundest mare to train and we’ve hard to work around a few issues with her,” James said.

“I thought that it may have been her last run when she won at Te Rapa but honestly, she has bounced through it better than she ever has any other run.

“We decided to give her a freshen and look at those two races, they fit in well with the direct flights.

“There’s a flight on June 8 and it was going to be a long haul to go through Sydney and then all the way up there.

“Obviously, we would be going to try and get some black type for her breeding career.”

Meanwhile, rising staying star Mark Twain is back in the stable while glamour three-year-old Orchestral continues to enjoy time in the paddock.

Mark Twain finished third in the Gr.3 Auckland Cup (3200m) and then booked a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) berth when he powered home from the tail of the field to win the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m) at Flemington.

“He’s grown and strengthened and just looks magnificent. He is a big, big bulk of a horse now,” James said.

“To be fair, I thought he might be a Melbourne Cup horse one day and thought it would be in another year’s time, but I am really heartened by the way he has strengthened during his spell.

“He has come back in tremendous order, he really has.”
Orchestral won five on the bounce, including the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) before she finished third in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

“I saw her last week and she’d had just a month out then. She has grown and certainly strengthened and decided to give her another couple of weeks out,” James said.

“She had a big three-year-old year and we have made no plans yet as to what to do with her as a four-year-old.

“I would be keen to give her a pretty light spring though and concentrate more on the autumn.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸 A Queensland campaign is on the cards for Apostrophe.
Photo: Race Images Palmerston North