Zabeel Classic

Venue change adds to Ballymore arsenal

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

Ballymore Stables will double their attack on the Group 1 Rydges Wellington Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday after its transfer from Trentham last weekend. Harlech was originally the stable’s only entrant, however, with the race now on their backdoor step, the Matamata operation has also elected to line-up On The Rocks.[...]

Posted on December 6, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

The abandonment of racing at Trentham on Saturday and the subsequent rescheduling of the Group 1 Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) to Te Rapa this Saturday has played nicely into the hands of trainers Jenny and Bob Vance and their quality galloper Royal Performer. The nine-year-old gelding had looked to be working nicely into form with[...]

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

Trainer Catherine Cameron knows that she has limited time left with impressive Te Rapa winner Solid Impact but is keen to make the most of it with the progressive four-year-old. The son of Real Impact made it three wins in a row when he downed a handy field of rating 74 gallopers over 1600m on[...]

Posted on November 5, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Hamilton trainer David Greene is hoping it’s a case of like mother, like daughter with promising three-year-old Just Dance, and early indications are promising. Just Dance is a daughter of Stolen Dance, a mare Greene trained to Group One runner-up results in the Zabeel Classic (2000m), Thorndon Mile (1600m), and Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m). She[...]

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 January 6, 2021
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are still coming down from the high of winning the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) with Concert Hall at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, and they are now looking at international targets with the mare. The daughter of Savabeel has been in faultless form this season, winning three of[...]

Posted on December 31, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Owner Joan Egan is having a week to remember. On Boxing Day she won the Group 1 Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie with Concert Hall, and on Wednesday the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained Beauden won the Taupo Cup (2000m) emphatically in front of a bumper crowd. The son of Bullbars began well from barrier six[...]

Posted on December 28, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

While his training partner is an old hand when it comes to producing winners at the elite level, Robert Wellwood was an uncapped novice until just after 5pm at Ellerslie on Saturday. In front of a massive crowd, Savabeel six-year-old Concert Hall dashed home out wide to take out the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel[...]

Posted on December 27, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Versatile mare Concert Hall bagged the Group 1 victory she richly deserved when she stormed home out wide to snatch victory in the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie. Prepared for owner and breeder Joan Egan by Roger James and Robert Wellwood, Concert Hall had looked a Group 1 winner in waiting[...]

Posted on December 25, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Cambridge trainer Robert Wellwood is hoping his best Christmas present can be unwrapped at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James, has yet to win a Group 1 race but is hoping that can be remedied when Savabeel six-year-old mare Concert Hall tackles Saturday’s Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic[...]

Posted on December 25, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Grant Cooksley has already twice helped Auckland trainer Bruce Wallace to win the race that has now become the Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie. Cooksley guided the Wallace-trained Star Dancer to win the race in 1995 when it was named the Auckland Classic and the following year when it was run[...]

Posted on December 25, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

While most people are busy gorging themselves on festive fodder, Christmas can be a challenging time for jockeys, particularly those that count every gram. With Boxing Day one of the premier days of racing on the New Zealand calendar, jockeys are prepared to forgo what others enjoy as they ply their trade the day after[...]

Posted on December 24, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Last start Group 3 Counties Cup (2100m) winner In A Twinkling will be vying for Group 1 glory at Ellerslie on Boxing Day when he lines-up in the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m). The Jamie Richards-trained gelding finished runner-up in the Group 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) behind Crown Prosecutor last year, and he has[...]

Posted on December 15, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Exciting mare Levante was in action at the Te Aroha trials on Monday, winning her 1000m heat by a head from another talented four-year-old in Entriviere. Levante set tongues wagging with a stunning last to first victory in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) last month and has been backed into $2.80 favourite for the Group[...]

Posted on December 11, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Ken and Bev Kelso would love nothing more than for classy mare Supera to sign off her career with a win. The Sir Peter Vela-bred and raced Savabeel mare contests Saturday’s Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa at what shapes as the second-to-last start of her career. “She’s in foal and she[...]

Posted on December 11, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Group 3 features at Te Rapa on Saturday could be the starting point of a special summer for Lauren Brennan. The Cambridge trainer has strong contenders for both the Group 3 Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup (2400m) and Group 3 J Swap Sprint (1400m), while proven Group 1 performer Vadavar is right on target for the[...]

Posted on November 17, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Group 1 performer Supera will resume what will be her last preparation when she tackles the Group 2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe on Saturday. The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained six-year-old sustained a minor foot issue that ruled her out of the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings last month[...]

Venue change adds to Ballymore arsenal

Royal Performer confirmed for rescheduled Captain Cook Stakes

Singapore Derby a target for impressive Te Rapa winner

Just Dance: Like mother, like daughter

Trainers looking to add to stakes tally

Australian targets for Concert Hall

Stakes target for Beauden

Wellwood still coming to terms with first Group 1

Concert Hall gets maiden Group 1 success

Concert Hall primed for Zabeel Classic

Cooksley shoots for another Zabeel Classic triumph

Elliot’s Christmas gift to be unveiled on Boxing Day

In A Twinkling out for Group 1 glory

Solid hit-out for Railway favourite

Supera surging towards finishing line

Te Rapa to kick off Brennan’s big black-type summer

Broodmare paddock beckons Supera

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