Kingsclere Stables

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)

09/04/2025

Great to see She’s a Dealer score a win at only her second raceday start, with in form jockey George Rooke aboard.

The 3yo filly by Ace High is raced by her breeders Rich Hill Stud, with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart & Peter Merton also involved in the ownership group. Congratulations to you all.

02/04/2025

The Charm wins by a head to break his maiden in the NZB Mega Maiden 1600m at Pukekohe Park.

The 4yo gelding by Charm Spirit has been knocking on the door all season so we are very pleased he was able to secure his first win for his breeder/owners P J & T L Rodewald.

Thank you to George Rooke for the well timed ride.

29/03/2025

That’s what racing is all about!

Zormella was sent out the red hot favourite with many of the Racehorses NZ Frac Club who race her along with Surf Coast Racing there to witness her win.

There’s plenty more ahead of this Almanzor 3YO.

Watch the replay here: https://tinyurl.com/4yuzzc5x

26/03/2025

DECEMBER STEPPING UP FOR KINGSCLERE

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Roger James and Robert Wellwood won’t be chasing Australian riches this Saturday with Orchestral, but the Cambridge trainers will have a key hope on home soil with December taking on the Listed Bramco Granite and Marble Flying Handicap (1400m).

An earner of more than $2.7 million, Orchestral is one of the country’s brightest stars and came back into form when winning the $1 million Aotearoa Classic (1600m) in January. She went on to finish third in the Gr.1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic (1600m) and sixth in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m), and while she was set to contest Saturday’s Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m), a minor hoof issue ruled her out of the A$1.5 million feature at Rosehill.

“We were getting her ready for the truck, but she had a slight pulse in her foot,” Wellwood said. “On further inspection, she had a bit of pain in her heel. “She’s still sound, but it’s just too big of a risk to be putting her on a plane and incurring all the costs involved for the owners. If it was a race in your own country, you may have had her right by Saturday, but it’s too big of a trip to go with no certainty.”

The daughter of Savabeel will remain in Cambridge this weekend, while her talented stablemate December is likely to make the journey to Trentham in favour of starting in an Open 11500m at Te Aroha on the same day.

Initially intending to start in the Listed Lightning Handicap (1200m) last Saturday, James and Wellwood opted to scratch the lightly-raced four-year-old from a wide barrier and step him back up to 1400m, a distance he hasn’t raced at since the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas in late 2023.

“He was just drawn very wide (in the Lightning) and the weather looked very unsettled, so we thought it was probably a bit of a risk putting him on the truck when there was good options for him in the following weekend,” Wellwood said.

“He’s drawn ever so slightly better at Wellington and we are keen to see him go 1400, so we’re leaning towards that at the moment. Having said that, we haven’t spoken to the ownership group, but we were fortunate to be able to leave him in both races.”

“He’s going really well and putting together a nice record, he’s a highly talented horse that has had some bad luck along the way. We haven’t stepped him back up over 1400 since he had blinkers on and was quite aggressive in them, so it’ll be nice to see him get back up over a trip for the first time in a long time.
“That’ll probably determine where we head with him from here.”

A stable runner that will appear at the Te Aroha meeting is Zormella, a classy filly that will step back to her own grade after performing creditably in the $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) on Champions Day. She was a late addition to the race after stablemate Dealt With was unable to fulfil his slot, and at just her third raceday start finished 11th.

“She ran as well as she could’ve in the Kiwi, it just all came up too quickly for her being just her third start to the races,” Wellwood said.
“She trialled up extremely well and just struck a wet track on debut, which didn’t suit her. She was very impressive in winning a maiden at Pukekohe, and as I say, the Kiwi probably just came up a bit quick.

“She gets back into her own grade now which is great, it’ll be nice to see her up over a mile and it’ll really tell us where we head from here, whether that be to go further to stick to a mile. I certainly think she’s a stakes horse in the making.”

Lining up in the Towes Insurance (1600m), the Almanzor three-year-old will carry just 54.5kg in the hands of apprentice Triston Moodley.

– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Orchestral has been ruled out of Saturday's Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m).
Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

13/03/2025

HASSTOBEAWINNER EARNS GROUP TWO TILT

By Jess de Lautour, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Talented gelding Hasstobeawinner has lived up to his name this preparation and will be tested for the first time in Group company in Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga.

The son of Vadamos had always shown promise and was rewarded for consistency with a lucrative prize in the Stella Artois 1500 Championship Final, an effort he only improved off to finish second behind the airborne El Vencedor in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes (1500m).

In preparation for the Tauranga feature, Hasstobeawinner carried the top-weight at Taupo over 1400m and lost no admirers, firing into third while giving away nearly six kilograms to the winner, Channel Surfer.

Robert Wellwood, who trains the five-year-old in partnership with Roger James, had plenty to praise in his most recent effort.

“I thought it was a good run, he didn’t get all favours and carried 60 kilos,” he said. “To see him round off the way he did, after not enjoying the track all that much, we were very impressed.

“His record right-handed is as good as anything, so we’re looking forward to seeing him go right-handed and up over a bit further.

“We’ve targeted this race to some extent with them and we’ll get this out of the way before making any plans going further.”

Joining Hasstobeawinner in the contest will be Dionysus, a Group Three-winning stayer resuming from a freshen-up. While Saturday’s distance may not be right up his alley, Wellwood and James have their eye on a bigger prize in a fortnight at Trentham.

“He worked really nicely this week and the mile may be a tad sharp for him, but expect to see him making big bounds late,” Wellwood said.

He’s hopefully going to go on to the Awapuni Gold Cup after this, and we’d love to see him get back to his best form for that race.”

The stable had hoped to send three-year-old maideners Surprise Inside and Hephaestus their separate ways across the weekend, but barrier draws have determined the pair will both start at Pukekohe on Friday in the TAB 1600.

A son of Per Incanto, Surprise Inside powered home into second last-start behind Ima Warrior, while Hephaestus produced a similar effort on debut, finishing a tidy fifth in a race won by Deadly Desire.

“They are both nice horses, we thought we would see how they drew to split them up but they’ve drawn the exact same places in both,” Wellwood said.

“We feel that Pukekohe is the better track for both of them (over Tauranga), it’s nice and roomy. It would be great to see them do something that could lead on to a nice race in the autumn.”

Meanwhile, Wellwood and James are yet to determine the next course of action for their star mare Orchestral, after she finished sixth in the Gr.1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) on Champions Day.

“We’re yet to decide on Orchestral, she was very disappointing early in the race and had been negative in her behaviour throughout the day, even travelling up in the truck,” Wellwood said.

“Interestingly enough, she still ran the quickest last 800, 600 and 400 of the race, but you don’t get any cups for doing that.
“We’ve given her a quiet week, changed a few things up and we’ll make a plan in the next week or so where we head with her.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸:Hasstobeawinner will contest Saturday’s Gr.2 Ultimate Mazda Japan Trophy (1600m) at Tauranga. Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)

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.