Kingsclere Stables

07/03/2025

We do love the Derby 🖤🤍

Roger James is the most successful trainer in New Zealand Derby history with six victories and will be aiming to further cement his legacy in this year’s edition of the race 🤩

Last year in partnership with Robert Wellwood, who secured his first NZ Derby win, the Kingsclere Stables duo triumphed with a breathtaking performance from superstar Orchestral.

This year, they return with two contenders, Oceana Dream, who has drawn barrier 1, and Grey Area, who will jump from barrier 4.

04/03/2025

Zormella has drawn barrier 5 for Saturday’s NZB Kiwi 🥝

What a cracking night at the 2025 NZB Kiwi Barrier Draw! The field is locked in, and the stage is set for the Southern Hemisphere’s richest 3YO race. 🥝 🐣

Next stop... Barfoot & Champions Day | 8 March 2025 at Ellerslie.

Check out the final results below.👇

TAB | Trackside NZ | Ellerslie | New Zealand Bloodstock

04/03/2025

Here is a sneak peek behind the scenes at Kingsclere Stables as we build towards “The Kiwi” with Zormella.

We can’t wait to share this day with Slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock & Clotworthy Racing and the owners of Zormella Racehorses NZ

04/03/2025

ORCHESTRAL ON SONG FOR BONECRUSHER

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Ellerslie has been the home of several of Orchestral’s career highlights, and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are hoping she can add another on Saturday when she contests the $1 million Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m).

The daughter of Savabeel was unbeaten at the Auckland track as a three-year-old, stringing together three consecutive victories, including the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).

This season she was victorious in the $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) in January before placing in last month’s Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m).

“She got held up for a couple of strides (last start in the Otaki-Maori WFA Classic) from one that was stopping in front of her over the mile,” Wellwood said. “It took her a while to get through her gears but once she hit top speed, she really took ground off them.”

Wellwood has been pleased with her progression over the last fortnight and is looking forward to stepping her up to 2000m.

“We really feel that we have got her peaking at the right time, and it is going to be quite exciting to see her back over 2000m for the first time this preparation at a track she loves so much and has had so much success at,” he said.

“Clearly El Vencedor is going to be very hard to beat, he is at the top of his game, but if we get a fair run in transit, they are going to have a hell of a fight.”

Australian targets await Orchestral post-Champions Day, with Wellwood keen to add to her previous victory across the Tasman in last year’s Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m).

“There are a number of options, the Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m), Tancred (Gr.1, 2400m)and Ranvet (Gr.1, 2000m), but the Tancred is probably number one at this stage,” he said. “It would be lovely to pick-up a Group One as an older horse over there, and we always love getting over there and competing.”

Wellwood is also looking forward to having a two-pronged attack in the $1.25 million Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) on Saturday courtesy of Grey Area and Oceana Dream.

“They are both in grand order,” he said.

“Oceana Dream was superb (when third in the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas, 2100m) and I think the mile-and-a-half is going to be no trouble to him, and likewise Grey Area. He (Grey Area)didn’t get a lot of clear air in his last start at Ellerslie, but he’s had a look around there and I am looking forward to seeing him step out in the Derby too.”

Kingsclere will also be represented in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) by Zormella, who replaced stablemate Dealt With on Monday for slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock andClotworthy Racing after he pulled up sore following a track gallop over the weekend. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Orchestral will contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

03/03/2025

KINGSCLERE SUBSTITUTION IN NZB KIWI AFTER DEALT WITH WITHDRAWN

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Just days out from the inaugural running of the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m), slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing have been forced to find another contender following the withdrawal of Dealt With.

The son of Ace High looked to be among the race’s leading contenders, having won his first two starts before placing in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Listed Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).

Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood felt there was plenty of improvement left in the gelding, but he has been ruled out of the southern hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race after he pulled up sore following track work on Saturday.

“He has galloped on Saturday and we haven’t completely gotten to the bottom of exactly what happened. At this stage we are thinking he has probably pulled a muscle high up in a hind limb,” Wellwood said.

“The vets are going to come for further diagnostics. We don’t think it is going to be a major long-term, but it is something that means we are unable to get to the race.”

Wellwood said it is disappointing for all concerned, but the welfare of the horse comes first.

“It is absolutely gut-wrenching,” he said. “It is such a high-profile race, and we were so excited to have him in there for the ownership group and ourselves.

“His form looked to put him right there with a winning chance.
“It’s hard to take, but the reality of it is that the horse comes first.”

A silver lining for the Cambridge barn is that the slot holders have elected to replace Dealt With with stablemate Zormella, who had previously just missed out on securing another slot in the race.

The daughter of Almanzor, who is raced by RNZ Frac Club 1 and Surf Coast Racing, has had just two starts to date, breaking through for her maiden win in impressive fashion over 1400m at Pukekohe last month.

“Fortunately, we had a filly (Zormella) we had just missed out on another slot with,” Wellwood said.

“She looks high quality and we are very lucky that the slot holders have chosen us. There were a number of options they were going through and have clearly decided that filly fits the bill.

“It is bittersweet to have another one in there.”

While the slot holders share Wellwood’s disappointment in losing the services of Dealt With for the NZB Kiwi, they believe they have found a suitable replacement in Zormella.

“It is sad news (withdrawal of Dealt With). I feel for the trainers and owners,” slot holder representative Shaun Clotworthy said. “The horse looked like he had a lot of potential and looked like a real chance in the NZB Kiwi.

“Roger and Robert have been happy with her (Zormella) and she won nicely the other day. She looks like a progressive horse, with a nice action, and being an Almanzor we hold no fears getting up to the 1500m.

“We have relied a lot on Roger and Robert’s opinion of her, and they have quite a high opinion of her. She lacks a bit of ringcraft with only have a couple of starts, but we think she has got potential, and Roger thinks she has potential.

“We had to make a decision pretty quickly. It’s a bit frustrating, but that is horse racing, and we all know what it’s like with horses, they can be sound one day and unsound the next.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Zormella will contest Saturday’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

01/03/2025

01/03/2025

George Rooke and December roared home with a barnstorming finish in the Fairview Matamata 1200 to record the Shamexpress gelding's fourth career win!

Congratulations to his owners Falcon Racing.

Watch the replay here: https://tinyurl.com/262r59hc

28/02/2025

Hasstobeperfect was just that today at Waverley, winning the Pasture First (2200m).

Congratulations to her owners, Roger and Christine Hassall's Family Trust and thanks to George Rooke for the winning steer.

Watch the replay here: https://tinyurl.com/s6vwtnnu

23/02/2025

KINGSCLERE TRIO ON SONG FOR CHAMPIONS DAY

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will head into next week’s Champions Day at Ellerslie with a trio of leading chances, with all three pleasing in their final hit-outs at the Auckland track on Saturday.

Glamour mare Orchestral was strong late when finishing third in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and will now step up to 2000m in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes.

The daughter of Savabeel was eye-catching when winning the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) last month, and her trainers felt another mile test was ideal when looking ahead to her autumn targets.

“She has bounced through it really well,” James said. “To be fair, we probably stacked it against her a wee bit going another mile, but we looked at the long-term and not the short-term.

“Her next two runs she will look well placed in – the Bonecrusher in two weeks and then most likely three weeks to the Tancred over a mile-and-a-half in Sydney worth A$1.5 million.”

Stablemate Dealt With continued his pleasing run of form when runner-up to Sethito in the Listed Trevor Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).

The son of Ace High hasn’t put a foot wrong in his four career starts to date, winning his first two starts, which earned him a berth in next week’s $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) courtesy of slot holders Kerri Spence Bloodstock and Clotworthy Racing, before placing in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Uncle Remus Stakes.

Saturday’s result bodes well for next week, with the field containing four NZB Kiwi contenders, and James has put his rivals on notice, saying there is improvement to come from his three-year-old.

“He is a big burly boy and he had done pretty well on us. Even his work on Thursday indicated that,” James said.

“He is not one that you can gallop in company, and he only does as much as he has to on his own. He pulled up that way a little bit too, that the run would bring him on. You can’t peak for them all, and if that is the one that we missed a little bit on true fitness, it is what the run was designed for.”

James will also be out to extend his great record in the $1.25 million Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) with Oceana Dream, who ran third in Saturday’s Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m).

“I was pleased with his run,” James said. “It was an 11 out of 10 ride from George (Rooke, jockey) to go forward as he did, first run over ground from a wide barrier and he found him a lovely position. He was just a bit late getting clear in the straight, but he ran home really well.”

Champions Day is building to be an exciting card of racing, and James is hoping his stable can figure prominently.

“It is going to be tough racing, but so it should be for the money that is up,” he said. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸 Orchestral is on track for the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) on Champions Day. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

23/02/2025

Lovely to have talented Almanzor filly Zormella salute at Pukekohe Park to break maiden ranks at just her second start.

Congratulations to her big syndicate of owners under the RNZ Frac Club 1 and Surf Coast Racing banners and thank you to George Rooke for piloting her to victory 👏

Watch the replay here: https://tinyurl.com/bdh8set6

21/02/2025

James and Wellwood set for more time in Ellerslie spotlight

Roger James and Robert Wellwood have played starring roles on many of Ellerslie’s biggest racedays over the last 13 months, and the Cambridge trainers are hoping to continue that trend on Saturday and again on Champions Day on March 8.

Ellerslie staged four races last season with a stake of $1 million or more, and there have been three so far in 2024-25. James and Wellwood have won three of those seven-figure prizes with their stable star Orchestral.

The high-class daughter of Savabeel headlines the Kingsclere contingent again at Ellerslie this Saturday, lining up in the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) ahead of a tilt at the $1 million Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) two weeks later.

She will be backed up by three promising stablemates who will use their Saturday assignments as auditions for lucrative three-year-old prizes on Champions Day. That includes exciting talent Dealt With, who has a slot in the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) and will have his final dress rehearsal in the Listed Trevor & Corallie Eagle Uncle Remus Stakes (1400m).

James and Wellwood will also saddle a pair of potential $1.25 million Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby contenders, with the unbeaten Oceana Dream lining up in the Gr.2 Eagle Technology Avondale Guineas (2100m) while last-start winner Grey Area takes on Rating 65 opposition in the Eagle Charters (2100m).

Orchestral was the standout three-year-old of the summer last season, producing dazzling performances to roar home from off the pace and win the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) by three and a half lengths, the Avondale Guineas by four lengths and the New Zealand Derby by 3-3/4 lengths. She later ventured across to Sydney and added the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) and a placing in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).
Unplaced in her first four appearances as a four-year-old this season, Orchestral turned her form around with a commanding last-start victory in the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) on January 25.

“You had to be pretty impressed with what she did last start,” James said. “She won with ease in the end. It was very pleasing to see her produce a performance like that.
“Everything’s gone really well with her since then. She’s had a nice break between runs to keep her as fresh as we can for another mile on Saturday, and she’s going into this race in very good order. It’s very much the idea to step her up to 2000m for the New Zealand Stakes next, and then hopefully we might take her back to Australia after that.”

Things have happened quickly for Dealt With, who burst on to the scene with a smart win on debut at Te Aroha on January 4. He won again at Pukekohe on January 19, then was thrown in at the deep end and ran a close third behind Damask Rose and Tuxedo in the Karaka Millions 3YO.

“He came a long way in quite a short period of time,” James said. “He’s improved with every run. He’s a big, burly boy and we’ve had to really stay on top of him, but his campaign is geared around that 1500m race in a couple of weeks’ time. We think we’re right on target.”

Dealt With will represent the Kerri Spence Bloodstock & Clotworthy Racing slot in the NZB Kiwi, and the TAB rates him a $10 chance in a market headed by Evaporate ($4), Checkmate ($6), Damask Rose ($6) and Perfumist ($7).

James is also enthusiastic about his chances of yet another victory in the New Zealand Derby, which he has previously won with Tidal Light (1986), Roysyn (1995), Zonda (1997), Hades (1999), Silent Achiever (2012) and Orchestral.

Oceana Dream, who brings a perfect two-from-two record into the Avondale Guineas on Saturday, is rated a $12 chance for this year’s Ellerslie classic. The lightly raced Grey Area is at $31.

“I really like Oceana Dream,” James said. “He’s a lovely type of three-year-old who I’m very confident will stay. My only worry with him on Saturday is that he’s drawn awkwardly in gate 14 against quite a good field where there doesn’t seem to be a lot of pace. So I hope there will be a reasonable pace on, because that usually ensures that the best horse wins.

“Grey Area is a horse we’ve got a lot of time for as well. He’d run 2400m tomorrow if there was a race we could run him in over that distance. He’s got a fantastic constitution and a great attitude. I think he’s got a lot in front of him.”

James and Wellwood also have seven entries at Pukekohe on Sunday, including first-starter Hephaestus in the TAB (1600m). The c**t by The Autumn Sun was bought for $160,000 as a yearling at Karaka and scored a seven-length win in a small trial field at Ellerslie on February 11.

“He’s a nice horse in the making,” James said. “He’s a big horse who has taken a while, which can sometimes be the case with The Autumn Sun’s progeny. That trial win was only a three-horse field, so you probably can’t read a lot into it, but he’s certainly gone the right way since then.”

– Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Orchestral will contest the Gr.1 Sport Nation Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

20/02/2025

🤞 We’re looking forward to another exciting weekend of racing.

07/02/2025

Wow..huge win by High Elation to give us a double for the day at Racing Tauranga.

The smart filly by I Am Invincible stamps herself as another exciting horse for the stable, winning at just her second start by 7 lengths.

Bred and owned by Colin and Helen Litt. High Elation is out of the Savabeel mare Elate, who was the first Litt owned horse we had the privilege to train. An honour to have the chance to train her first foal in High Elation.

Congratulations to owners Helen and Colin Litt. And big thanks to George Rooke for the winning ride.

07/02/2025

Exciting staying prospect Grey Area gets his maiden victory over 2100m at just his second start at Racing Tauranga.

A privilege to train a quality horse for Cambridge Stud’s Brendan Lindsay MNZM and his wife Jo, who also bred the eye-catching son of Pierro. Congratulations to you both.

Big thanks to Warren Kennedy for the beautiful ride. 💛🖤

05/02/2025

🎬 Roger caught up with Trackside NZ's Aidan Rodley this morning...

01/02/2025

Fantastic to wrap up the day with a win at Ellerslie, with Oceana Dream making it two career starts for two wins in the Trelawney Stud 1600.

Congratulations to Oceana Dream's breeders/owners Judi and Ron Wanless, and thanks to George Rooke for the winning ride👏.

29/01/2025

WHIRLWIND WEEK FOR KINGSCLERE

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Roger James and Robert Wellwood experienced a whirlwind of highs across the Karaka Millions and Yearling Sales series this week, a trend they hope to continue back at Ellerslie on Saturday.

Last Saturday night at the Auckland venue, their star mare Orchestral silenced any doubters with a top-class performance to win the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m), a year after reigning supreme in the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

An earner of over $2.67 million, Orchestral is now poised to take on the likes of Snazzytavi and La Crique in a star-studded edition of the Gr.1 Herbie D**e Stakes (2000m), to be run at Te Rapa on February 8.

“It was great to see her back at her best, especially in a big race like that,” Wellwood said. “It was a huge thrill.

“She seems to have come through the run really well, we’re yet to make a firm decision but more than likely she’ll go to the Herbie D**e.”

The daughter of Savabeel is currently the $3.50 second-elect in the TAB Futures market for the $700,000 feature, with Snazzytavi on top at $1.90.

A few days after the Karaka Millions meeting, James and Wellwood went to $1.1 million to secure a special filly out of Hallmark Stud’s draft on behalf of Orchestral’s owners, Colin and Helen Litt. Lot 564, a Proisir filly out of Donna Marie, is the full-sister to another Kingsclere headlining act in Prowess, who won two Group Ones and over $1.5 million in a career that came to a premature end.

Wellwood, while acknowledging the connection to Prowess, said the filly stood out on her own.

“It was great, but we’re not sentimental and don’t buy them for the sake of it,” he said. “We genuinely thought she was the best filly on the grounds, which gave us confidence, matched up with a family we know, and a cross we know that works.

“We’re extremely lucky and proud to be able to get her, and very fortunate to have the owners that support us to buy what we felt was the best filly.”

A further six yearlings were purchased by the Cambridge trainers in Book 1, including Lot 412, a Per Incanto c**t out of Group Two winner Xpression for $260,000, while they went to $310,000 for Lot 623, a filly by young sire St Mark’s Basilica.

“I thought we did reasonably well, we only buy horses if we love them,” Wellwood said. “I always do the grandmother test, I say to myself if my grandmother wanted this horse, would I buy it for her. All of these horses have passed that test and are coming home.

“We’re excited to see them in our stable.”

Back in the stable, promising sprinter Irish Legacy already saluted earlier in the week at Tauranga, while Wellwood has plenty of time for Schmooze, who will make just his fourth start on Friday at Te Rapa in the NZB Kiwi Preview Evening 6/3 (1400m).

“He was very unlucky last start, he’s a highly talented horse that we’ve been patient with,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to seeing him step out with a good barrier (3) for once.”

The team will have a strong contingent at Ellerslie on Saturday, with juvenile debutant Vittoria representing the TAB Racing Club in the Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m). Her sole trial appearance was second behind In Haste, who went on to score comfortably at Matamata.

“I thought her trial was very good and that form was then franked by In Haste going to the races and winning nicely,” Wellwood said.

“This is not something we would normally do, running a horse that’s only had the one trial in a stakes race at its first start, and Ellerslie is one of the harder tracks to get things right at being a big open space, so we’re taking it on trust that she’s going to handle the occasion.

“It was either head there or to Tauherenikau, and Ellerslie was closer, we’ve got a high opinion of this filly and whatever she does, she’s going to improve off.”

The Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m) is the ideal scenario for in-form galloper Hasstobeawinner, but currently third on the ballot, he looks more likely to take his place at Taranaki in the Platinum Homes 1400.

“Our preference is to head to Ellerslie, but we’ve got to get a run, that’s the key there,” Wellwood said.

“He’s flying, wherever he goes he’ll be competitive.”

A horse that may be back at Ellerslie on the big stage in a month’s time is Oceana Dream, a $1.25 million Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) prospect who blew away his competition on debut at Tauranga. Stepping up in distance, he will contest the Trelawney Stud (1600m).

“He’s a high-class horse, I’m really looking forward to seeing him step out and then going forward, working out whether we look to head the Derby way, or perhaps whether he’s sharper,” Wellwood said.

“We’re very happy with him.”

Completing Kingsclere’s runners will be the well-related Usain, having his first attempt over ground that should suit his bloodlines in the Horizon By SkyCity (2100m).

“He’s from a staying family and is bred and built to go staying trips,” Wellwood said. “He’s going well, he’s certainly ready to be getting up over ground and probably didn’t have all that much luck last start.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Cambridge trainer Robert Wellwood pictured following Orchestral's win at Ellerslie last Saturday. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

28/01/2025

MILLION DOLLAR DOUBLE FOR DONNA MARIE

For the second year in a row, Hallmark Stud has struck seven-figure gold at Karaka with a yearling filly by Proisir out of Donna Marie.

The Baker family’s Te Kauwhata operation topped the Book 1 sale 12 months ago with a filly that fetched $1.6 million, and they were in the spotlight again on Tuesday with $1.1 million for Lot 564.

The remarkable double comes from a mere $20,000 purchase price to secure Donna Marie from the 2014 National Broodmare Sale at the same Karaka sale ring.

“We had this filly on the market at $300,000 and we were very excited when she went past the million,” Denny Baker said.

The million-dollar fillies are full-sisters to the multiple Group One winner Prowess, who herself was a $230,000 yearling purchase at Karaka in 2021. She went on to earn more than $1.5 million in stakes and was sold for $1.45 million in an online auction on Gavelhouse Plus last year.

Donna Marie is a daughter of Don Eduardo, who still holds the all-time record with his own $3.6 million purchase price as a yearling at Karaka in 2000. Donna Marie has now earned her own slice of Karaka history, becoming the fourth broodmare to be represented by multiple million-dollar yearlings.

She joins a list that is headed by Grand Echezeaux, who had three of her progeny break the seven-figure mark (Darci Brahma for $1.1 million in 2004, Saperavi for $2.2 million in 2006, and Burgundy for $1.3 million in 2010). Marquise had two (Shower Of Roses for $1.45 million in 2001 and Mutheer for $1.05 million in 2002), and so did Popsy (Maciano for $1.45 million in 2008 and Rock ‘N’ Pop for $1 million in 2010).

Tuesday’s million-dollar yearling was bought by Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, who bought Prowess and guided her through a 12-race career that produced eight wins including the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m) and $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m).

“From the first time I saw this filly, I thought she was exceptional,” James said. “They just don’t come as balanced. I couldn’t fault her.

“Orchestral’s owner (Colin Litt) asked me to rate her out of 10, and I said 10. I couldn’t knock her in any respect, and so you shouldn’t be able to at that money. We weren’t keen to keep going, but I’m glad we got her.

“Prowess was a big, rangy filly that we had to wait for. This one is so balanced – you could imagine her doing things at the tail end of her two-year-old year and then being very competitive as a spring three-year-old.

“Her attitude is bombproof. I saw her the other day. She was tired and almost dead on her feet, she’s been so popular, but the minute she was asked to walk, she had an overstep of about 9 inches. She’s one filly that’s just going to give her guts for you.”

The sale has produced some special moments for James, including seeing a full-sister to his stable star Orchestral set a record price for a yearling at Karaka with a sale-topping $2.4 million. But he has endured a frustrating few days from a purchasing perspective.

“We’ve found the sale very tough,” he said. “I think it’s probably a reflection on the New Zealand prize-money. We were trying to buy three to syndicate, and normally we’d look at $200,000 to $250,000 and we didn’t even get a bid in. We don’t think we’re usually wrong with values, but we were this year, and I think it’s a reflection on our increased stakes.”

Orchestral’s heroics in the $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday provided a timely boost to the buying power of owners Colin and Helen Litt, who will race Tuesday’s million-dollar filly.

“It certainly helped,” Wellwood said. “It was good prize-money on Saturday. Colin, Helen and the whole family have been such big supporters of the stable, and they all love Orchestral, and that has egged them along to find the next Orchestral.

“We are absolutely chuffed to buy this filly. To be honest, we thought she was the best filly on the grounds. We loved Orchestral’s sister, but she was a bit over our budget. But we are really stoked to have the support from Colin and Helen to get this filly. To be able to buy her and have her come home is amazing.

“It is always hard to know how much these high-end fillies are going to make. Obviously she’s a full-sister to Prowess, who we won a couple of Group Ones with. They are always competitive, people all around the world are looking at them, so it’s very hard to value those fillies. We were very fortunate to be able to get her on what was our last bid.

“She has the same athleticism as Prowess, but she was probably a bit bigger than this filly and she might come a little bit earlier than Prowess did. This filly, Prowess and the filly that sold last year are all a bit different, but all lovely fillies and I’m sure the Baker family are happy with the family too.” – NZ Racing Desk.

📸 Lot 564 the Proisir full sister to Gr.1 winner Prowess was sold by Hallmark Stud for $1.1 Million to Roger James and Robert Wellwood on Tuesday. Photo: Glenys Randell