Zabeel Classic

Australian targets for Concert Hall

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[...]

Posted on October 19, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Progressive galloper Paisley Park bounced back to winning form when he out-finished his rivals over 1600m at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Dunstan Feeds Stayers Championship Final (2400m) winner earlier in the year at the venue was having his third start in a new campaign and looked ready for a big performance based on his first[...]

Posted on October 14, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Star mare Melody Belle, who was named New Zealand Horse of the Year for the second year in succession on Sunday night, will be out to land her 12th Group 1 victory when she contests the Livamol Classic (2040m) at Hastings on Saturday. Connections have paid a late-entry to supplement the Jamie Richards-trained mare for[...]

Posted on October 14, 2020
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

Group One winner Tiptronic bypassed the first two legs of the Hawke’s Bay Spring Carnival and trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall are hoping a less travelled path will benefit him at Hastings on Saturday. The son of O’Reilly will line-up in the Group 1 Livamol Classic (2040m) after carrying big weights in his three[...]

Posted on December 26, 2019
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

What a difference a year makes. Expat New Zealand jockey James McDonald rode True Enough to victory in the Thames Cup (1600m) in January and nearly a year later he reunited with the six-year-old gelding to record a Group 1 victory in the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. McDonald was[...]

Posted on December 25, 2019
in New Zealand Horse Racing News

It is all hands on deck in the Rogerson household again this Christmas as the in-form stable prepares for the Boxing Day races at Ellerslie where they will saddle eight runners, including Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) favourite Beauden. While for most, Christmas means a day of rest and time spent with the[...]

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

Paisley Park a summer cups contender

Belle a late entry for Livamol Classic

Livamol test for Tiptronic

McDonald True Enough in Zabeel Classic

Rogerson confident festive season will extend to Boxing Day

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