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Kingsclere Stables

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Kingsclere Stables is one of New Zealand's leading Thoroughbred Racing Stables and is home to top training duo Roger James and Robert Wellwood.
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21/01/2025

Dealt With has drawn barrier 6 for Saturday’s TAB Karaka Million 3YO Classic. Can we win the race three years in a row🤞

21/01/2025

The proof is in the pudding! 🏆

19/01/2025

DEALT WITH DANCES TO MILLIONS WITH DRAMA-FILLED VICTORY

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Unbeaten three-year-old Dealt With (NZ) (Ace High) has booked himself a ticket to the big dance with victory in Sunday’s Elsdon Park 1400, but it wasn’t without a heart-stopping moment in the home straight for Roger James and Robert Wellwood.

The son of Ace High debuted with a comfortable, albeit green win at Te Aroha earlier this month, and stepping into open age-group company at Pukekohe, he was fancied to replicate that result closing a narrow $3.20 favourite over First Dance ($3.30).

Powering from barrier three, Dealt With was keen to get on with the job and soon took up an uncontested lead in the hands of George Rooke, with Elegant Jazz in close quarters to his outer. He kicked strongly turning for home and put a margin on the field by the 150m, but that’s when it all nearly came unstuck, showing his inexperience and shying abruptly at the 100m post, unseating Rooke.

Despite this, Rooke managed to regain his balance, straighten the gelding and guide him home by three-quarters of a length to a fast-finishing First Dance.

After the race, Wellwood was full of praise for his promising galloper, while admitting it had been far from an easy watch.

“I hope George has got a spare pair of breeches in his jockey bag, it was looking pretty impressive then looked pretty scary there for a minute,” Wellwood said.

“But still, it was very impressive. He’s got a lot to learn, but to put away a nice field like that with things to learn, it’s pretty exciting going forward.

“He’s a big, strong horse and he’s able to put himself in the race, that’s a big help. It’s nice to see him do that, but we hope we can see him start to do it a bit easier.”

Prior to Sunday’s contest, the Cambridge trainers had indicated the $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) was a real possibility for Dealt With, and all going well, the gelding will be off to Ellerslie next Saturday.

“We’ve got a number of options, but practically, there is a race worth a million and a half in six days’ time,” Wellwood said. “If he came through this really well and George’s feedback says he can go over a mile, we could look to head there.

“Otherwise, there will be one more run for him in the middle of next month, then we hope to secure a slot in the Kiwi. I think he’s just made a statement that makes him a pretty obvious horse for a race like the Kiwi.”

While James and Wellwood have won the past two editions of the Karaka Millions 3YO with Prowess and Orchestral, the NZB Kiwi will be new territory, with the inaugural running of the $3.5 million contest set to be run on March 8 at Ellerslie.

Dealt With was a $90,000 purchase by his trainers at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales, through breeder Hallmark Stud’s draft. He is out of an Exceed And Excel mare Scrutiny, who had one subsequent foal by Super Easy before passing.
📸 Dealt With winning the Elsdon Park 1400 on Sunday at Pukekohe Park. Photo: Trish Dunell

19/01/2025

Dealt With (Ace High) took good improvement from his debut win a fortnight ago with an impressive victory at Pukekohe Park in the Elsdon Park Stakes over 1400m today. Many thanks to George Rooke for another great ride, we are looking forward to seeing how he comes through the run and plotting his next assignment.

View the replay here: https://tinyurl.com/59pc7ans

Dealt With was selected by the stable at Karaka in 2023, congratulations to his ownership group M Bennett, S Brown, L Cudby, R J Fleetwood, Mrs C Franich, A & S Gow, B J Hall, P Hewett, P J & T M Magill, K & P R Moore, K J Ovens & Sixforsixty Syndicate.

17/01/2025

RICH TARGETS ON THE RADAR FOR PROMISING THREE-YEAR-OLD

By Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Sunday’s Elsdon Park (1400m) at Pukekohe could be a stepping stone towards much bigger and better things for unbeaten three-year-old Dealt With.

The Ace High gelding turned heads with a dominant debut victory at Te Aroha on January 4, and that performance did not go unnoticed in terms of fixed-odds markets for upcoming three-year-old features.

The TAB currently rates him a $16 chance for next Saturday’s $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) at Ellerslie, with a $21 quote available for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) slot race at the same venue on March 8.

“There’s a couple of big three-year-old races coming up that we’d love to see him running in, and the first of those is the Karaka Millions,” said Robert Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James.

“That’s only six days after this race at Pukekohe on Sunday, so it’s a bit ‘pie in the sky’ at this stage. We’re keeping the option open, but absolutely everything would have to go 100 percent right for us to carry on along that path.

“The other option is to give him another run in between times and then hope to secure him a slot for the Kiwi in March.”

James and Wellwood paid $90,000 to buy Dealt With from the Book 2 draft of Hallmark Stud at Karaka 2023. His highly impressive first-up performance came as no surprise to the Cambridge trainers, who had previously given him two trials including a five-length romp over 800m at Ellerslie back in September.

“We always knew that he was a horse with very good speed and ability,” Wellwood said. “We just had to be a bit patient with him early on, but it was very pleasing to get him to the races at Te Aroha this month and see him produce such an impressive performance on debut.

“His work has been good since then. He’s still got plenty to learn, but we believe he’s taken some good improvement from that first run. It’s going to be interesting to see how he goes in better company on Sunday.”

Dealt With will again be ridden by George Rooke, who guided him to his win at Te Aroha earlier in the month. The pair will meet a talented line-up of three-year-olds on Sunday, including last-start winners Cognoscenti and This Time Girl, Cambridge Stud filly First Dance and last month’s Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m) fourth placegetter Hard Roca, but Dealt With heads the TAB’s market at $3.80.

“We had the option of either the three-year-old race or the Rating 65 at this meeting on Sunday,” Wellwood said. “We were able to accept for both, see how he drew and use that as the decider, and that’s definitely pushed us towards the three-year-old race.”

Dealt With will be one of two runners at Pukekohe on Sunday for James and Wellwood. They will also saddle Aladdin Sane in the Auckland Co-Op Taxis (2200m) – something of a Plan B after missing out on a $350,000 opportunity at Trentham.

“We entered him for the Remutaka Classic (2100m) on Saturday as well, but unfortunately he’s fourth on the ballot there and very unlikely to get a run,” Wellwood said. “It would have been nice to see him race for $325,000 more, but that’s the way it goes.”

Aladdin Sane began his four-year-old season in good form with two seconds and then a win at Pukekohe, beating subsequent Trentham winner and Remutaka Classic contender Sinhaman. He pulled up slightly sore after losing a plate during a 2100m Rating 75 at Tauranga in December, where he was a beaten favourite and finished seventh, but showed more promising signs with a strong finish for sixth in the Thames Cup (1600m) on January 4.

“I thought that was a very good run,” Wellwood said. “It was the run of a horse that needs to get back up over ground. He gets that opportunity on Sunday and we’re expecting a good run.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸:Dealt With will contest Sunday’s Elsdon Park (1400m) at Pukekohe. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

16/01/2025

Northeasterly (The Autumn Sun) went back-to-back taking out the Alexandra Racing Club Pirongia Cup at Te Rapa this afternoon.

The four-year-old gelding broke maiden ranks last time out.

Congratulations to his owners; Arrowfield Stud, C R & H Litt, Robinson Family Trust, Mr P & Mrs S Hogg, C Grammer, M Andersen & Redbank Pty Ltd (Mgr: P Favretto) and thanks to George Rooke for the winning ride.

🎥: https://tinyurl.com/yexna8j9

12/01/2025

Hasstobeawinner goes back-to-back at Ellerslie after taking out the last on Sunday, the Karaka 2025 Handicap (1500m).

Congratulations to R & CM Hassall Family Trust and thank you George Rooke for yet again an excellent ride.

09/01/2025

📰 ANOTHER AUCKLAND SUMMER IN STORE FOR ORCHESTRAL

By Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

A series of outstanding performances at Ellerslie last summer underpinned an award-winning three-year-old season for Orchestral, and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood hope Sunday’s Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1400m) will set her up for more of the same in 2025.

The top-class daughter of Savabeel scored a stunning Ellerslie treble in last year’s $1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m). She powered home from the back half of the field to win each of those features with ease, racking up a combined winning margin of more than 11 lengths.

Orchestral carried on to Sydney and added the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), which James and Wellwood had also won the previous year with Prowess. Orchestral’s exceptional three-year-old season came to an end with a third placing in the Gr.1 Australian Oaks (2400m).

James and Wellwood went into Orchestral’s four-year-old spring with high hopes, but she was unplaced in all of her three appearances. She resumed with an eighth over 1400m at Ellerslie in September, followed by a strong-finishing sixth in the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) and a very disappointing 12th in the Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m).

“For whatever reason, she didn’t show her best form in that spring campaign,” James said. “She had a hard run first-up, and then to be fair to her, she was very unlucky in that second run. But her performance in that last race was a bit of a head-scratcher.

“We gave her a break after that and I’m super happy with her in the lead-up to Ellerslie this weekend. She’s looking great.

“The 1400m will absolutely be short of her best distance this weekend and there’s a fair bit of improvement left in her. We don’t need her to be peaking for this race.”

James is looking forward to taking Orchestral back to Ellerslie’s Karaka Millions meeting again on January 25 in search of another million-dollar prize.

“She’ll go to the Aotearoa Classic (1600m) next,” he said. “After that, she’ll probably continue to race in New Zealand through until the autumn. We can race for such incredibly good money on home soil now, with the stakes and bonuses, that there’s no need to look further afield.”

The TAB rates Orchestral a $3 favourite for the Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic. She is also prominent in the market for the Gr.1 Herbie D**e Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on February 8, where she sits on the second line of favouritism at $6 behind dominant $1.70 favourite Snazzytavi.

Orchestral is at the same $6 quote for the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), which is one of four Group One races run on Champions Day at Ellerslie on March 8.

The Aotearoa Classic, Herbie D**e Stakes and Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes are all qualifying races for the Rich Hill Champion Middle Distance Series, which will award bonuses of $300,000, $150,000 and $50,000 for the three highest point-scorers at the conclusion of the 12-race series.

Orchestral’s return headlines an exciting weekend for Kingsclere Stables, who will also be represented by last-start Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final (1500m) winner Hasstobeawinner in the NZB Karaka 2025 (1500m) at Ellerslie on Sunday.

The form out of that Stella Artois 1500 victory on Boxing Day has already received a notable boost, with runner-up Bourbon Empress going on to win the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile (1600m) on New Year’s Day.

“He won that race very well and the form has stacked up,” James said. “That looks to me to be the most competitive race of the day on Sunday, there’s a lot of form in that line-up. It’s not a given that he can win again, but we have been very happy with the horse in between times.”

On Friday at Tauranga, James and Wellwood will be represented by resuming runners Arabian Songbird in the MJ @ Ray White Greerton (1400m) and December in the Social Club Greerton (1200m).

“I think Arabian Songbird’s last race at Pukekohe in November was a real ‘forget’ run,” James said. “She won both of her starts before than in very good style. She’s had a little freshen up and has pleased us with her work. She can run a bold race on Friday.

“December is a pretty fair sprinter and is coming up really well. He’s still on the way up, so he’ll take some good improvement out of whatever he does on Friday.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Orchestral will contest Sunday’s Auckland Co-Op Taxis (1400m) at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

07/01/2025

Carisbrooke Castle kicks off his career with a perfect record 💯.

Congratulations to his owners, the Trotters and thanks to George Rooke for the winning ride.

04/01/2025

DEBUTANT DEALS TO MAIDEN RIVALS

By Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Roger James and Robert Wellwood have spent plenty of time in the three-year-old spotlight in the last couple of seasons, and the Cambridge trainers unveiled another bright prospect in Saturday’s Thames Valley Insurance 3YO (1150m) at Te Aroha.

James and Wellwood’s star performers Prowess and Orchestral have combined to win the last two editions of the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) and Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m), along with a Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and a Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2050m).

Those are enormous shoes to fill for this season’s crop of age-group talent, but debutant Dealt With has passed his first test in style.

The Ace High gelding went into his first raceday appearance with two trials under his belt, including a five-length win over 800m at Ellerslie in September. He was sent out as a $3 favourite at Te Aroha on Saturday and produced a dominant performance that put him in the picture for bigger assignments later in the summer.

Drawn gate seven in a nine-horse field, Dealt With was caught wide in the early stages of the race and jockey George Rooke had to urge him forward to take the lead and move across to the rail.

Those early exertions might have been expected to take a toll on Dealt With, and he made things even harder for himself by racing greenly and drifting from side to side in the home straight. But despite all that, he pulled away from his outclassed opposition in the final 200m, cruising to a comfortable victory by just over a length.

“All credit to the horse,” James said. “They didn’t give him the lead easily, so he had quite a lot of work to do early, and then he was green in the straight. But when he was by himself in those closing stages of the race, he looked good.

“He’s run a time that not many maidens are running (1:09.37), so that’s probably a fair indication of his ability.

“There’s a lot of improvement there, that’s for certain. He’s a big, powerful horse, but just very raw at this early stage.”

The TAB now rates Dealt With a $21 chance for the inaugural $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on March 8.

“Everyone wants to talk about that race, but we won’t get too carried away just yet,” James said. “We’ll get him home and make a plan around the rest of his campaign.”

Dealt With is by Ace High out of the winning Exceed and Excel mare Scrutiny. His breeders Hallmark Stud offered him in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, where James and Wellwood bought him for $90,000. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

📸: Dealt With putting a space on his rivals on debut in the Thames Valley Insurance 3YO (1150m) at Te Aroha. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images).

04/01/2025

🌟 All credit to Dealt With who on debut was just too good in the Thames Valley Insurance Maiden 3yo!

Many thanks to George Rooke for keeping him up to the mark in the running. This Ace High gelding has plenty of ability and will take a lot of improvement from today’s run.

Dealt With was selected by the stable at Karaka in 2023, congratulations to his ownership group M Bennett, S Brown, L Cudby, R J Fleetwood, Mrs C Franich, A & S Gow, B J Hall, P Hewett, P J & T M Magill, K & P R Moore, K J Ovens & Sixforsixty Syndicate.

02/01/2025

Oceana Dream was impressive in taking out the Epic Journeys Maiden 3YO. Aided by an outstanding ride by George Rooke, this gelding is one for one. Congratulations to all the team involved, especially to breeder and owners Judi & Ron Wanless.

27/12/2024

HASSTOBEAWINNER TAKES HIS CROWN IN THE STELLA ARTOIS FINAL

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Hasstobeawinner has often played the bridesmaid role in his career, but on Boxing Day at Ellerslie, he chose the right time to live up to his name, storming home to take out the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final.

In 17 starts prior to Thursday’s contest, Hasstobeawinner had only won one race, but had finished in the first three on 10 occasions, including a narrow second to Wallen in the $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m).

His consistency continued this term as a five-year-old, recording two placings before tackling the $110,000 special conditions contest, which in recent years, has been a launchpad for subsequent Group winners Bankers Choice, Habana and this year’s Gr.1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) winner Snazzytavi.

In an even betting contest, Bourbon Empress closed favourite at $4.50 ahead of Subtle Power ($6.50), with Hasstobeawinner among the fancied runners at $10. The gelding jumped positively from barrier 10, with jockey George Rooke making use of his early speed and eventually found a tidy position one-off the fence in fifth.

Sinhaman was the pacemaker throughout and was tackled by Subtle Power at the top of the straight, before Hasstobeawinner came charging down the centre of the track, taking over at the 200m and holding off Bourbon Empress and Francee to take the feature by three-quarters of a length.

The son of Vadamos is trained by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, and the latter had plenty of praise for both horse and jockey after the victory.

“He’s been a very honest horse, he’s been knocking on the door and has run a lot of placings,” Wellwood said. “Everything worked out for him yesterday, he was very strong through the line.

“I thought it was a super ride by George, there was nice pace in the race and he was able to relax. He presented him at a good time, last time he perhaps got to the front a bit early but he’s worked out the horse and it was perfect.

“He comes and rides work for us at least once a week and putting in the hard yards, he’s riding very well.

“There are plenty of options for the horse now, we’ll see how he comes through it and make a bit of a plan for the rest of the summer period.”

Bred by Colin and Irene Thompson, Hasstobeawinner was purchased out of the draft of Rich Hill Stud at the 2021 Karaka Yearling Sales by bloodstock agent Robt Dawe for just $45,000.

He is raced by the Hassall Family Trust, of whom he has now earned just shy of $190,000 for.

His dam Keepereel was a winner of seven races, and as a broodmare, she also has produced He’s Got Power, who won 10 races and placed at Group Three level.

Wellwood was also more than pleased with the performance of stablemate Irish Legacy, who went down in a tight finish to Grande Gallo in the SkyCity Fireworks 1200.

“She put in another great run, she probably just needed to be clear 50m earlier and the result may have been different, but the run was still very good,” he said.

“It was just the bob of a head deciding the result, but she’s absolutely flying and I think as we go further to 1400 and a mile, we’re going to see even more.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Hasstobeawinner powers across the line to win the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

26/12/2024

Hasstobeawinner would not be outdone by his stablemate Northeasterly who was successful at Otaki. Hasstobeawinner had to win the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final at Ellerslie to make it two for our stable. Congratulations to R & CM Hassall Family Trust and thank you George Rooke for an excellent ride.

26/12/2024

Northeasterly wins the McMillan Equine Feeds Maide at Otaki-Maori RC. Thank you for to Lily Sutherland for the winning ride. Congratulations to the large set of owners: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, C R & H Litt, Robinson Family Trust, Mr P & Mrs S Hogg, C Grammer, M Andersen & Redbank Pty Ltd (Mgr: P Favretto) who will celebrate Northeasterly's first win.

15/12/2024

SWEYNESDAY CONTINUES RAPID RISE

By Richard Edmunds, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
The demise of racing in Singapore has had a bright side for Roger James and Robert Wellwood, with Sweynesday emerging as an exciting young talent in their Cambridge stable.

The lightly raced four-year-old collected the third win of his five-start career with another promising performance in Saturday’s Pathways – The Immigration Specialists (1200m) at Te Rapa.

Sweynesday races in the colours of Eric Koh’s Falcon Racing, renowned as one of the leading owners in Singapore. The son of Sweynesse was bought for $80,000 by Koh, King Power and Bevan Smith Bloodstock from the 2022 Ready to Run Sale at Karaka. That group also paid $280,000 at the same sale to buy December, who James and Wellwood have trained to win three of his seven starts so far.

“We’re fortunate to train Sweynesday for Falcon Racing,” Wellwood said on Saturday. “He and another horse we’ve got in our stable were both bought to go to Singapore, and we’ve been the fortunate beneficiaries of what’s happened to racing in Singapore. We’re very grateful that they’ve decided to leave those two horses in our stable.

“They were both were bought at Karaka by a very good friend of mine, Bevan Smith, who has an excellent record of buying quality yearlings and two-year-olds that go on to perform on the racetrack. We’re thrilled that he bought this horse and that he’s ended up in our stable, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for him.”

Sweynesday had two starts as a three-year-old last season, finishing second on debut at Taupo in March before leaving maiden ranks with a smart victory at Ellerslie in April. The gelding resumed in October with a first-up defeat of subsequent winner Wind Of Change at Ellerslie, then ran second behind the highly rated Twain on November 30.

Sweynesday was sent out as a $2.60 favourite at Te Rapa on Saturday and produced a performance worthy of that billing. In-form jockey Masa Hashizume gave him a patient ride in midfield as Rayet led the field up to the point of the home turn.

Master Brutus tackled and headed Rayet in the straight, but then Sweynesday loomed ominously on his outside. Hashizume asked his mount for maximum effort and Sweynesday stretched out powerfully in the last 50m, edging ahead of Master Brutus to win by a short neck. Rayet held on for third, five lengths adrift of the first pair. The 1200m were run in 1:09.93.

Sweynesday’s five-start career has produced three wins, two seconds and $92,025 in stakes.

“He’s a quality horse,” Wellwood said. “He doesn’t have too many chinks in his record, running first or second in every start so far, and it was another good performance today. He’ll learn more from that too, he was a little bit green, but Masa rode him patiently and timed his run perfectly.

“We’ll see how the horse comes through today, but everything he’s shown us so far is giving us a bit of confidence to think about raising the bar a bit higher with him later in the campaign. But the horse has to come first, so we’ll wait a couple of days and make sure he’s come through this well before making any other plans.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

📸: Sweynesday (outside) winning the Pathways – The Immigration Specialists (1200m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

14/12/2024

Very proud of Sweynesday taking out the Pathways Handicap (1200m) at Te Rapa today.

The ride from Masa Hashizume was timed to perfection! 👌

Congratulations to owners Falcon Racing.

08/12/2024

KINGSCLERE GALLOPERS CONTINUING FAMILY LEGACY

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

A pair of well-related gallopers delivered impressive fresh-up victories for Roger James and Robert Wellwood across the weekend.

Irish Legacy, a daughter of multiple Australian Group One-winning mare Shillelagh, made her four-year-old debut at Ellerslie on Saturday, after four appearances last term included a third placing in the Gr.3 Mufhasa Stakes (1200m).

Backed into odds-on favouritism in the TAB 1200, Irish Legacy was patiently handled by Ryan Elliot early, easing into a midfield position on the back of her younger stablemate Osteria. A wall of horses were in front of the mare nearing the 250m, but Elliot quickly reverted to the inside and once she found clear air, Irish Legacy put the field away comfortably, with Osteria holding on gamely to complete the Kingsclere quinella.

Wellwood was rapt with the performance, with the ultimate goal to boost her black-type record for Christopher Grace, who bred and co-owns the blue-blooded mare.

“She was very impressive, maturity has been a big thing for her both physically and mentally,” he said. “She’s not the easiest filly, but she’s certainly grown up a lot.

“She got a bit of black-type at three so clearly the ability was there, but to see her sprint and put them away as easily as she did yesterday, it was a nice statement.

“I think we’ll work through the grades, but she’s by I Am Invincible out of a Group One winner, so the more black-type we can get, the better. She has been retained by her breeder, so we want to find some black-type at some point.”

Wellwood also praised the efforts of Osteria, the Ribchester three-year-old recording his fourth top-three finish in as many starts this campaign for owner-breeders Barneswood Farm.
“He was very good, he ran a good race but just unfortunately ran into what is a very good mare,” he said.

“We’re not sure where we will head with him next, but he’ll probably step up to 1400 now.”

On Sunday, James and Wellwood were represented at Te Aroha by Usain, who returned in style to collect his maiden success in the Team Wealleans 1400. The son of U S Navy Flag was last at the races in June, finishing fifth over a mile to Awhina.

In the hands of Masa Hashizume, who won earlier in the meeting aboard Dua Dance, Usain was eased back from a wide gate, travelling wide early before finding cover behind race-favourite Bak Da Angel. The gelding crossed to the centre of the track down the home straight and kept finding, kicking away from Bak Da Angel in the final strides to score by a half-length.

“We were hopeful that he would go and win today, but we thought that he may have to get out to a mile,” Wellwood said.

“He’s strengthened up a lot into this preparation, he’s still got a lot to learn and he lay in coming down the straight, but he hit the line strongly and was pretty impressive.”

Usain is the eighth foal out of Etah, making him a half-brother to Gr.1 Sydney Cup (3200m) winner Etah James. Wellwood expects, with time, the gelding can also make his mark in the staying ranks.

“We certainly think he’s only going to get better as he goes further and probably with a bit more time,” he said.

“Looking to next year, that is probably when we’re going to see him really put his hand up, he’s still got some maturing to do but the family has probably been a bit like that.”

Usain is raced by his breeders, Mark and Cath Lupton, Terry Reid and Gary Howes. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Irish Legacy and Ryan Elliot powered away with Saturday's TAB 1200 at Ellerslie. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

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131 Abergeldie Way
Cambridge
3214

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Wednesday	5am - 5pm
Thursday	5am - 5pm
Friday	5am - 5pm
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+64273694938

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https://www.kingsclerestables.co.nz/

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We’re passionate about training racehorses

Founded by leading New Zealand trainer Roger James in 1987, Kingsclere Stables have maintained a successful record of training elite racehorses for nearly four decades.

Boasting an impressive Roll of Honour which features over 1100 winners, 28 Group One winners and 134 stakes winners, Kingsclere is among the leading racing stables in Australasia.

Celebrated for being the ‘Derby King’, head trainer Roger James goes down in history for training the highest number of Group 1 New Zealand Derby winners. Roger achieved this feat through the success of multiple Group One winner’s Silent Achiever, Hades, Zonda, Roysyn and Tidal Light.

Among his long list of accomplishments, Roger has received the Champion New Zealand Trainer of the Year award and has become one of New Zealand’s most iconic trainers.

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08/12/2024

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We’re passionate about training racehorses