Concert Hall

Century for James and Wellwood

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

Having raised the bat for a century, New Zealand trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are looking to build their innings further in black type races in the next two weeks. The Cambridge training partnership are aiming class mare Two Illicit at Saturday's Group 1 Fiber Fresh New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m) at Te[...]

Posted on March 18, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Last Sunday's Group 2 Auckland Cup (3200m) marked the final public outings for high-class gallopers Concert Hall and Sound, who signed off by finishing second and third respectively behind Central Districts visitor Uareastar. Retirement had been earmarked for both seven-year-old mare Concert Hall and nine-year-old entire Sound, and stud careers beckon the pair who ran[...]

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

New Zealand apprentice Wiremu Pinn added another highlight to his burgeoning riding career when he produced a daring ride aboard Marton visitor Uareastar to take out the Group 2 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup (3200m) at Ellerslie. Pinn, who has had a chequered-start to his apprenticeship and only recently returned from a lengthy suspension, had[...]

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

Concert Hall's standing will force her to concede significant amounts of weight to her opposition in Saturday's Group 2 Avondale Cup (2400m), but connections believe it is the best means to an end for their quality mare. With a rating of 105, the New Zealand seven-year-old is head and shoulders above her Ellerslie rivals in[...]

Posted on February 5, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Progressive New Zealand three-year-old Pinarello has suffered a minor setback on his road to the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and connections have their fingers crossed he will be firmly back on track after Saturday. The well-related son of Tavistock and Zabeel's Group-winning daughter Zonza missed a run last weekend and Plan B in[...]

Posted on January 27, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are well on their way toward their most successful season since forming a training partnership at the beginning of the 2018-19 term. Their top tally to date was 30 winners in that initial season and they are currently sitting on 20 with a best ever mark of six[...]

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

A year ago, Roger James identified a Tavistock juvenile in his barn as the horse that might give him a sixth New Zealand Derby success. Looking at Pinarello's victory at Te Aroha on Monday, his judgment may not be too far off. Having his second start for James and his training partner Robert Wellwood following[...]

Posted on January 2, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

A never say die effort from Dionysus and rider Opie Bosson saw them take out a fabulous victory in the Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) at Ellerslie. After a gritty second placing over 2200m on Boxing Day in a qualifying event for the final, the four-year-old son of Ocean Park looked to be a[...]

Posted on January 2, 2022
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

A recent injury prevented popular owner-breeder Joan Egan from attending the New Year's Day races at Ellerslie on Saturday, but her pride and joy Concert Hall gave her a timely boost with a masterful performance in the Group 3 Skycity City of Auckland Cup (2400m). The high-class daughter of Savabeel was backing up from the[...]

Posted on December 24, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Top-class jockey Vinnie Colgan will be reunited with quality mare Two Illicit in the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) on Sunday and should the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained five-year-old salute, no one would begrudge the veteran hoop success. Two Illicit enters the Ellerslie contest on the back of a devastating win in[...]

Posted on December 14, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Roger James had plenty of time to reflect on a truly magical 48-hour period as he made the long trip home to his Cambridge base from Palmerston North on Sunday morning. James and training partner Robert Wellwood were the stars of the show at Te Rapa on Saturday, producing a perfect set of stakes victories[...]

Posted on December 14, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Riding four winners on a premier raceday, including two at Group level is cause to celebrate in any language and jockey Leith Innes wasn't going to buck that trend after a magical day at Te Rapa on Saturday. Innes was feeling a little dusty come Sunday morning as he reflected on a superb day at[...]

Posted on December 14, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood capped an already stellar day at Te Rapa on Saturday when Two Illicit strode clear of her rivals to claim the Group 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m), the first elite-level success of her career. The Cambridge conditioners had earlier secured a stakes double with Concert Hall[...]

Posted on December 14, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Something about the start of summer brings the very best out of Concert Hall, who broke an 11-month win drought with a superb victory in Saturday's Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa. The NZD$110,000 fillies and mares' showpiece was the 10th win of a 29-start career for the high-class daughter of Savabeel,[...]

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

The well-travelled Cheval Prometteur has showed resilience in the face of adversity and his fighting qualities were again showcased at Te Rapa on Melbourne Cup Day. The lightly raced seven-year-old's career has been interrupted by two serious injuries, but he has battled his way back and produced a gallant performance to reign supreme in the[...]

Posted on November 1, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Roger James and Robert Wellwood will be chasing a third black-type success for the season when Concert Hall takes aim at the Group 3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Tuesday. The Cambridge trainers have already claimed major targets with Cheaperthandivorce and Two Illicit, who both carry the Trelawney Stud colours, and are confident[...]

Posted on October 11, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood will make a two-pronged attack on Saturday's Group 3 Red Badge Spring Sprint (1400m) at Hastings, which is shaping as a strong contest. Classy mare Two Illicit will kick off her spring campaign in the event while last year's winner Hypnos will also be back to defend his[...]

Century for James and Wellwood

Auckland Cup placegetters bow out

Pinn claims Auckland Cup aboard Uareastar

Weighty Cup bid best option for Group One mare

Good footing key to Derby hope Pinarello’s chances

Trainers hoping good times continue to roll

James eyeing further Derby success

Bosson masterclass lays path for Dionysus victory in Stayer’s final

Concert Hall delivers tonic for Egan

Colgan eager to make up for lost Group One

James keen for more of the same after spectacular Saturday

In form Innes ready for Christmas racing

Two Illicit caps magical day for James and Wellwood

James and Wellwood to the fore at Te Rapa

Injury-plagued galloper rewarded with Group success

Trainers looking to add to stakes tally

Cambridge pair set for feature Hastings sprint

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