Kingsclere Stables

16/09/2025

🤞🇳🇿🏆

Weights are out!💥OTI’s Cup Dreams remain alive for:

🏆Deakin – Melbourne Cup 52kg | Caulfield Cup 54kg Stokes Racing
🏆Mark Twain – Melbourne Cup 51kg | Caulfield Cup 52.5kg Kingsclere Stables
🏆Athabascan – Melbourne Cup 51.5kg | Caulfield Cup 53.5kg John O'Shea Racing
🏆Golden Century – Melbourne Cup 51kg | Caulfield Cup 51kg Chris Waller Racing

The spring carnival excitement is certainly building!🔥 Racing Victoria Racing.com

10/09/2025

Fairy Dream’s maiden win may have meant slightly more to one half of the training partnership today! What a great achievement for Roger James to have trained his 1300th domestic winner alongside being the most successful trainer in the New Zealand Derby.🐎

Congratulations to Roger James, who celebrated a special milestone today with his 1300th domestic victory as Fairy Dream stormed home on the Cambridge Synthetic under jockey George Rooke 😍

From his Kingsclere Stables base, James has produced memorable moments, including a record six New Zealand Derby triumphs with stars such as Tidal Light, Zonda, Silent Achiever, and, most recently, Orchestral in partnership with Robert Wellwood.

10/09/2025

Fairy Dream gets a dream run to take out her first start today at WTR at Cambridge Racecourse.

A beautiful ride by George Rooke, gave the Proisir filly all favors to get over the top of a handy field.

Congratulations to her owners, Colin and Helen Litt. Here’s to more success with this exciting filly. 🤞🏻🧚🏻‍♀️

06/09/2025

Roger shares his thoughts on Trackside NZ post Arabian Songbird’s win.

06/09/2025

Great to be back winning at The Big E on a Group One day. Arabian Songbird got the job done with ease, beating a good field.

Thanks the Masa Hashizume for the good ride and congratulations to the Barneswood Farm Ltd team.

05/09/2025

MARK TWAIN COMMENCES MELBOURNE SPRING CAMPAIGN

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) hopeful Mark Twain has landed in Melbourne and will commence his path towards the iconic feature at The Valley on Saturday.

While the A$200,000 So You Think Stakes (1500m) wasn’t the original plan for the six-year-old son of Shocking, trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood elected to head over to Melbourne early after inclement weather curtailed their plans in New Zealand.

“He has travelled over well and settled in nicely, he looks great,” Wellwood said.

“It wasn’t our first pick of races, he was due to run at Te Aroha last weekend, but due to the Heavy track, this was a back-up option.

“We need to get this run under his belt before he steps up over a more suitable distance.

“It has come up a very strong field. You have got a number of Group One winners over a mile, so he is probably going to be beaten for a bit of speed, but if we can see him hit the line strongly, we will be very happy.

“He will probably step out over 2000m next time out, which will be much more up his alley.”

Raced by Australian syndicator OTI Racing, Mark Twain was guaranteed a start in last year’s Melbourne Cup after winning the Listed Roy Higgins (2600m), and while injury curtailed those plans, Wellwood said it still holds him in good stead to gain a berth in this year’s running.

“The win in the Roy Higgins really helps us this year for getting into the Melbourne Cup,” he said. “Fingers-crossed, if we can keep him happy and healthy, we will see him run in a Melbourne Cup this year.”

Back in New Zealand, Kingsclere Stables will hold a strong hand at Ellerslie on Proisir Plate Day, headlined by a two-pronged attack in the Kingmakers Syndication 1300, courtesy of Group Three performer Zormella and Arabian Songbird.

“I am really excited to see both of the mares, Zormella and Arabian Songbird, in that race,” Wellwood said. “They are two nice horses that have come back in good order and it’s hard to split them.”

The stable will also be represented by Osteria in the Sistema 1100, while Aladdin Sane needs a scratching to gain a start in the Horizon By SkyCity 1600.

“Osteria has come back a bigger and stronger horse as a four-year-old, so I am looking forward to seeing him step back out,” Wellwood said.

“I am really hoping Aladdin Sane gets a run. He sits in a bit of an awkward spot in the handicaps to get a run on these bigger days. He seems to like Ellerslie and I think the mile might be his pet distance.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Mark Twain will contest Saturday's A$200,000 So You Think Stakes (1500m) at The Valley. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

27/05/2025

Queensland Oaks start in balance for Kiwi filly

Ace High filly She’s A Dealer will keep ticking over until her Classic aspirations become clear.

The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained three-year-old was a gallant runner-up at Randwick on Saturday, but her chances of a start in the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) remain unclear.

She’s A Dealer pleased connections in her Australian debut over 1800m on a heavy track under regular rider George Rooke in Rich Hill Stud’s colours.

“We just don’t know yet whether she’ll make the Oaks field,” farm principal John Thompson said. “She’ll stay in Sydney until the field is released on Tuesday week and we can ship her up to Brisbane if she gets in. “If she doesn’t, we’ll make a decision whether we leave her in Sydney for another run or bring her home.”

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

Following a below par debut run, she had reeled off consecutive wins at Ellerslie and Te Rapa to earn a trip across the Tasman.
“She fought on pretty well and we were happy with the run, that’s for sure. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens next,” Thompson said.

On the domestic scene, Rich Hill graduate Uderzo was an emphatic all-the-way winner of the open 1600m handicap at Te Rapa on Saturday for the fifth success of the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained gelding’s career.

The son of Vadamos was bred by Thompson and school friend Merton and sold to Wexford Stables at Karaka for $125,000.
Uderzo is out of the Pentire mare Etosha Lass, who has a retained two-year-old filly by Proisir and a weanling c**t by Ace High.

“The Proisir is in pre-training, we’re not rushing her and haven’t selected a trainer yet,” Thompson said. “The mare is empty and we haven’t made a decision for this year, she’s got a bit of age on her now and we’ll have a chat about it.”

Thompson is currently on the Gold Coast for this week’s National Broodmare Sale, having already made a A$250,000 purchase out of Glenesk Thoroughbreds’ draft at the recent Inglis Chairman’s Sale. “She’s by Pierro, a lovely maiden mare off the track called Poifect and will come back and go to Satono Aladdin,” he said.

Poifect was trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes and won four of her 14 starts, including the Listed Adelaide Guineas (1600m).
She is out of the winning Flying Spur mare Without Exception, whose brother Krupt was successful in the Gr.2 Todman Stakes (1200m) and half-sister Anevay won the Listed Talindert Stakes (1100m).

By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

25/05/2025

Natoya landed the maiden win of her career at Ellerslie today, at just her fourth start.

Congratulations to her owner/breeder Gerry Harvey Westbury Stud and thanks to Ryan Elliot for the kind ride.

A 3YO daughter of Redwood, she looks to have a bright future ahead.

Watch a replay of the race here: https://tinyurl.com/3hz98xyp

12/05/2025

Ace High filly to play Group One card

Gifted Ace High filly She’s A Dealer will cross the Tasman later this week in a bid to make her mark at the highest level.

Trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, the three-year-old will make her Australian debut at Randwick and a continuation of her hot domestic form will then see her travel further afield.

“She will fly over to Sydney next Sunday and race on May 24 in a Benchmark 72 for three-year-olds over 1800m,” Wellwood said.
“If she can win or run very well, we hope to head up to Brisbane for the Queensland Oaks (Gr.1, 2200m).

“That’s two weeks later so it’s the perfect progression for her. Obviously, the Oaks is a bit of a moving target to try and work out whether she’ll get in. “It’s done on prizemoney and we don’t know what else will be there, but at this stage she’ll probably have to win to get in.”

She’s A Dealer is raced by breeders Rich Hill Stud with friends Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton and is quickly making up for lost time.

She was laid low through the spring by a lung infection and, following a disappointing effort when unplaced on debut in March, has impressively won both of her subsequent starts at Ellerslie and Te Rapa.

“She has shown a lot and we’ve always thought she was a highly talented filly, but she had that unfortunate setback,” Wellwood said.

“Her first run at Matamata was a bit of a head scratcher and we’re still left wondering what happened that day.
“We thought perhaps it may have had something to do with going left-handed, but she’s gone that way since and proved that it isn’t a problem and rated like a black-type horse at Te Rapa the other day.”

She’s A Dealer has been partnered in all three appearances by George Rooke, but visa issues will prevent him from making the Australian trip.

“Rory Hutchings is booked to ride her in Sydney, and we haven’t come up with anything beyond that,” Wellwood said.
“He’s a top-class jockey and we’ve got a good rapport with him, he’ll be the right man for the job.”

She’s A Dealer is a true-blue Rich Hill product with her dam Say No More, a two-time Group One-winning daughter of former stud stalwart Pentire. All six of her foals have been winners, including the stakes performer I Say Hello, and is also the granddam of the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) winner Lantern Way.

By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

26/04/2025

She’s a Dealer secured back to back wins when successful in Race 2 at Te Rapa today.

She’s a horse we think a lot of and she put away a decent field today.

Congratulations to Rich Hill Stud who bred and co-own her along with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton.

Thanks to George Rooke for another great ride.

23/04/2025

Listening gets her first win, with her ears pricked on the line Pukekohe Park today.

The 3yo filly by Pierro, lined up for just her second raceday start and seemed to really relish the heavy track presented to her today.

Congratulations to her ownership group which includes Jamieson Park, more to come from this filly throughout the winter racing season we hope.

Thanks to Masa Hashizume for the smart winning ride.

16/04/2025

ZORMELLA UP FOR MIDDLE-DISTANCE TEST

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Rising talent Zormella contested the NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie last month, and on Saturday she will return to the Auckland venue as a key player in the Gr.3 Trelawney Stud Championship Stakes (2100m).

The daughter of Almanzor was a late inclusion in the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race after stablemate Dealt With was ruled out of the $3.5 million contest.

At just her third start, she was far from disgraced and showed her class when returning to Rating 65 company last-start putting over three lengths on Monday Melody. Rapt with the performance, trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are looking forward to stepping their filly out over ground for the first time.

“She couldn’t have been more impressive than what she was, it was there for all to see,” James said. “She did a little bit of work early, then relaxed well and kicked clear.
“We’re going to see on Saturday, but we’re of the belief that it (2100m) will suit her better than the mile. It’s a big step up in quality of field, but we’re pretty certain she’ll be competitive.

“We’ll see how she goes on Saturday and how she comes through it before making any further decisions going forward.”

The Cambridge trainers prepare Zormella for a large ownership group, put together by the Racehorses New Zealand Frac Club and Surf Coast Racing.

“It’s our first horse involved with them (FRAC Club), and I believe this is their first horse too,” James said. “They’ve picked a good one to get going with.”

Joining Zormella in the three-year-old feature will be Grey Area, a Pierro gelding coming out of the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). “He had a tough run in the Derby and I think you can put a line through that run,” James said.

“He worked with the filly (Zormella) on Tuesday morning and his work was equal to hers, they were both very good. He looks tremendous, he’s a big horse that has handled his preparation very well.”

The Listed SkyCity Star Way Stakes (1200m) has attracted a tidy field of up-and-coming juveniles, with Kingsclere Stables represented by Trelawney Stud filly Steezy.

A well-bred daughter of Russian Revolution, Steezy has finished runner-up in her first two starts, including at Ellerslie earlier this month behind Wyndstorm.

“She’s a very good worker at home and you know what you’ve got when you take her to the races,” James said. “She’s still a bit frail and getting there maturity-wise, this will be her last run of this prep. It’s black-type and if she can run in the first three, it’s very valuable for her.”

Completing the stable’s runners at Ellerslie will be Hasstobeawinner, a consistent galloper who collected the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final at the course on Boxing Day before placing in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m), won by El Vencedor.

He contested the Gr.2 Japan Trophy (1600m) last-start at set weights and penalties, and James believes he will find the Gr.3 Manco Easter Handicap (1600m) a more suitable option. “I think the conditions of this race suit him better, he loves Ellerslie and he’s in grand order,” James said.

Prior to the stakes racing action on Saturday, James and Wellwood will have two runners at Matamata on Thursday, including last-start winner The Charm in the Matamata Function Centre Mile (1600m).

“He’d always promised that (maiden win) and it was nice to see in the end, I think he’s still learning his trade and he’ll get further at some stage as well,” James said.

The Charm will be partnered by Hamish McNeill in the highweight contest, while James is unsure whether he will start Hephaestus in the Lest We Forget 1600 or the Robow’s 1600.

“I’m not certain which race we’ll run him in yet, but he’s a horse of the future and is probably six months away like a lot of The Autumn Sun’s,” he said.

“He let himself down a little bit last-start after a promising run the time before, so we’ve freshened him and he comes into the race in nice order.”

Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)