Bev Kelso

Legarto impresses on debut

Posted on June 9, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

New Zealand trainers Ken and Bev Kelso could have another star daughter of Proisir on their hands. Two-year-old filly Legarto carries the same colours as her Group One-winning stablemate Levante, and didn’t let them down, winning on debut over 1100m by 3.75 lengths at Matamata on Wednesday. “I thought it was a really good run,”[...]

Posted on April 11, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

A slashing run for second in an open trial held before the first race at Rotorua on Saturday has class mare Levante primed and ready for the Group 1 Fibre Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa next weekend. After a slightly tardy beginning, the five-year-old daughter of Proisir worked her way[...]

Posted on March 31, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Levante’s domestic racing season isn’t over just yet with confirmation the high-class mare will be given the opportunity next month to add to her record at the elite level. Trainer Ken Kelso, who prepares the five-year-old with wife Bev, is keen on a crack at the Group 1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes[...]

Posted on March 15, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

New Zealand trainers Ken and Bev Kelso and the connections of top mare Levante can look forward to the Melbourne spring carnival with confidence following her bold showing in her Australian debut. They were on a fact-finding mission with the daughter of Proisir and she responded positively to finish fourth down the Flemington straight in[...]

Posted on March 12, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Group One winner Levante has touched down in Melbourne ahead of her debut run on Australian soil this Saturday in the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap (1200m) at Flemington. Fresh off wins in the Group 1 Telegraph (1200m) and Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), New Zealand trainers Ken and Bev Kelso decided to test their[...]

Posted on February 13, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Despite the limited crowd on course due to New Zealand’s COVID protocols, there were still plenty of joyous scenes in the Te Rapa grandstand as the connections of outstanding racemare Levante celebrated her second consecutive Group One win with victory in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m). Touted as a match race between the[...]

Posted on February 6, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Inclement weather across New Zealand has forced the abandonment of two further race meetings with both the Tauranga meeting on Sunday and the Tauherenikau meeting scheduled for Monday called off without a race being run. The cancellations follow the abandonment of racing at New Plymouth on Saturday following the conclusion of race one that saw[...]

Posted on January 17, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

High-class mare Levante broke through for a deserved Group One victory in a heart-stopping finish to Saturday’s JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham. The five-year-old daughter of Proisir went into the time-honoured sprint as an eight-race winner from 13 starts, including the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) and two editions of the Listed[...]

Posted on December 31, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

All the key indicators point to the high-class mare Levante going close to plugging the only gap in her CV on New Year’s Day at Ellerslie where she will bid to add a Group One victory to her record. The daughter of Proisir is a multiple black type winner and top honours in the Sistema[...]

Posted on November 8, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Class mare Levante didn’t surprise anyone by winning a 1000m trial at Matamata last week, but the manner in which she won it suggests she’ll be an even tougher horse to beat this season. Group Two winner Levante has won seven of her 11 career starts and is known for her get-back run-on style, often[...]

Posted on April 20, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

If Levante is going to become a Group One winner, she’s going to have to wait until she’s a five-year-old. The exciting four-year-old mare ended a good yet somewhat frustrating 2020-21 season when she finished fourth last Saturday in the Group 1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. Ken Kelso,[...]

Posted on April 7, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

It was an agonising decision for jockey Samantha Collett in selecting her mount for the Group 1 Fiber Fresh NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Te Aroha on Saturday, and she is hoping she has chosen wisely. Collett had the choice of Group One winner Travelling Light, last start Group Three winner Coventina Bay, and[...]

Posted on March 29, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Promising mare Les Crayeres will head to the spelling paddock off the back of a stylish performance over 1400m at Tauranga on Saturday. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained four-year-old survived a protest from the third placed runner, Duneagle, to register career win number four from just 8 starts and set herself up for a profitable[...]

Posted on March 15, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

The connections of exciting galloper Levante will be looking for an indication on any changes to the current trans-Tasman travel restrictions before making a decision on her next raceday assignment. While one-way travel to Australia is no issue, returning home is a significant headache for New Zealanders, with two weeks quarantine still mandatory and places[...]

Posted on March 3, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

High-class mare Levante ran out a ready winner of her 1230m heat at the Rotorua trials on Tuesday and most importantly jumped away cleanly from the starting gates and will be seen back at the races on Saturday week. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained four-year-old missed a place for the first time in her nine-start[...]

Posted on February 16, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Trainers Ken and Bev Kelso left Te Rapa racecourse on Saturday evening with mixed emotions after contrasting performances from their two runners on the day. Two hours after quality mare Levante had shocked pundits with a tardy beginning that cost her all chance in the Group 1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m), exciting prospect Les Crayeres[...]

Posted on January 26, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Two days after her superlative win in the Group 2 Westbury Classic (1400m) at Ellerslie on Karaka Million night on Saturday, exciting four-year-old Levante was enjoying a relaxing morning in her paddock at the Matamata property of her trainers Ken and Bev Kelso. Ken Kelso cut a relaxed figure at the National Yearling Sale at[...]

Legarto impresses on debut

Levante on target for Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes

Levante pressing on to Breeders’ Stakes

Australian mission accomplished with Levante

Levante to make Australian debut

Levante makes it consecutive Group One wins

Spate of abandonments curtail weekend racing

Levante claims Group One in thrilling Telegraph

Levante at top of her game for Group One challenge

Levante on-target for fruitful campaign

Spring targets beckon Levante

Collett elects for Levante in Group One

Impressive Tauranga winner ready for a break

Travel restrictions to decide next target for Levante

Levante slick from gates

Les Crayeres provides pick me up for Kelso

Levante on track for next Group 1 challenge

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