Category: Gallops

Star filly Well Written (Written By) will enjoy a well-deserved break after her narrow triumph in the $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, with an Australian autumn campaign ruled out.   The Stephen Marsh-trained three-year-old has gone undefeated in her sparkling six-start career, but gave favourite backers heart palpations when quality filly Belle Cheval went within a whisker of an almighty upset on Saturday.   “It’s a lot for a filly like her,” Marsh said. “She’s six runs deep, she has been down south, she has done…

Astute trainer Roger James claimed the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) for a record seventh time on Saturday when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus), ridden by George Rooke, defeated stablemate Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) in a stirring edition of the race. Despite his wayward tendencies, the son of Circus Maximus dashed passed the runner-up to score comfortably and survived a double protest before being confirmed as the winner. The victory provided James’ training partner Robert Wellwood with his second New Zealand Derby success and reaffirmed the appropriate name…

Trainer Ciaron Maher said connections were so pleased with the first-up run of star Trelawney Stud bred mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) in Saturday’s Gr.1 All-Star Mile that they wouldn’t shy away from a clash with the unbeaten star Autumn Glow.   Pride Of Jenni led up and after she was collared half-way down the Flemington straight, she fought back to be beaten narrowly by Tom Kitten and Evaporate in an effort that Maher himself found rousing.   “She was super,” Maher enthused. “They were on her today,…

Kylie Hoskin has had a frustrating season with her promising three-year-old Geneva (NZ) (Time Test), but he made it all worthwhile when running third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day. “I am absolutely rapt, it was awesome,” Hoskin said. “That was my first runner in a Group One so to get the third placing I was over the moon.” However, the race wasn’t without its frustrations, with race winner Road To Paris shifting inwards in the concluding stages, causing interference with placegetters Autumn Glory…

This year’s Champions Day was one to remember for Kingsclere Stables. The Cambridge barn scored the quinella in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m), won the Gr.3 King’s Plate (1200m) with Sweynesday, and earlier in the day picked up a sentimental victory for stable owners Ali and Graeme Andrews. Ali’s father recently passed away, and jockey George Rooke donned a black armband to pay respect when jumping aboard Confesara (Toronado) ahead of the Windsor Park Stud 3YO Trophy (1500m), and the pair got the perfect result. They travelled midfield with…

In a thrilling conclusion to New Zealand’s richest raceday, Champions Day at Ellerslie, promising mare Elle Sourit (NZ) (Ocean Park) retained her unbeaten record as she powered home to take out the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m). Racing during the day had been of the highest calibre and the last race on the card didn’t disappoint as the Andrew Forsman-prepared daughter of Ocean Park came from well back in the running with an undeniable run that took her to her fourth win from just four starts. Given a long…

It may have been a lot closer than anticipated, but Well Written’s (Written Tycoon) victory in Saturday’s $4 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) was one for the books. The unbeaten Group One-winning filly was installed a hot favourite in the Southern Hemisphere’s richest three-year-old race, jumping a money back favourite in the Champions Day feature at Ellerslie, with every other runner at double figure odds, headed by Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) at $17.90. The market proved accurate, with the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly nearly becoming the giant killer, coming…

The name Roger James is synonymous with the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Cambridge conditioner has done it once again when he and training partner Roger Wellwood produced the quinella in this year’s HKJC World Pool-sponsored Classic with Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) and Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park). James had won the feature three-year-old staying contest on six prior occasions, starting with freakish filly Tidal Light (NZ) (Diagramatic) in partnership with Jim Gibbs in 1986, and 40 years later he made it win number seven, and…

Australian trainer Henry Dwyer crossed the Tasman with two horses earlier this week and he nearly went home with the perfect result at Ellerslie on Saturday. Stable sprinter Cote Atlantique (Kodiac) was runner-up behind Sweynesday in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m), but stablemate Paradise Storm (Masked Marvel) wasn’t to be denied in the Gr.2 Trackside Auckland Cup (3200m), storming home to a dominant 6-1/4 length victory. Racing three-wide with cover, Joe Doyle wasn’t content with the sedate pace in the race, sending his charge forward down the back…

In what could be her swansong in New Zealand, class mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) put in her best performance at Ellerslie when she stormed home to collar a game Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) and claim the Gr. 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) on Saturday. It made for a welcome change of luck for trainers Ken and Bev Kelso who had to endure the nightmare scenario of their sprinter Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) crashing through the running rail when set for victory in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) two…