Kingsclere Stables

11/10/2026

Another magical win by talented 3yo Spellbound, that’s two on the bounce now for the gelding by Per Incanto ✨🏆

Just a small field to contest today, he was ridden patiently at the back of the field, to then swoop wide on the home straight to put them away very smartly 🤩

Big congratulations to his ownership group A & G MacLeod, S Agnew, B Allen, S Gordon, S Hawkins, P & S Hogg, L Cudby, G Crawshay, B & M McLuckie, R Fleetwood, D Skipper, Trevor Sargent Family Trust & B Tupaea

Thanks to Corentin Berge for the beautiful ride 🙏🏻

Haunui Farm

03/10/2026

Our big gentle giant The Precursor gets it done at Matamata today, putting him well on his path for the New Zealand Cup … 🏆

A sit and steer ride from Masa Hashizume, he just had to wait for the gap to open up and when it did he put away a tidy field in the R75 2000m event.

Big congratulations to his breeder Mrs J Thomson and owner Graham Stewart 👏❤️🖤

29/09/2026

DISTANCE TEST AWAITS SHE’S A DEALER

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood are looking forward to stepping She’s A Dealer up over further ground following her bold third placing in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) at Hastings.

The Group One-winning daughter of Ace High carried owner-breeder Rich Hill Thoroughbreds’ colours to a thrilling three-way finish with Waitak and Tuxedo, ultimately conceding to the pair by the barest of margins.

James was proud of his mare’s effort and is now looking forward to returning to Hastings with her on Saturday week to contest the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m).

While She’s A Dealer has competed over ground in Australia, running fifth in both the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2200m) and Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m), she has yet to run further than a mile in New Zealand.

“She was very brave and it will be interesting to see her go 2000m next start,” James said. “She has only had three runs further than a mile. I am looking forward to seeing her go 2000m.

“The two big boys that beat her home last time are going to be very hard to beat again, but I think it comes down to those three again.”

The TAB’s futures market matches James’ assessment, with Tuxedo and Waitak heading the market at $2.50, while She’s A Dealer is the second elect at $6.

She’s A Dealer’s aptly named stablemate Excite also competed at Hastings last weekend, finishing seventh in the Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) following a tardy beginning.

The son of Wootton Bassett showed plenty as a juvenile last season, winning the Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) and running fourth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m), but barrier manners have hindered his first couple of starts as a three-year-old.

“His barrier manners have let him down in both of his last two starts,” James said. “If we can get them right, he is still in the hunt. I see he ran the quickest last 600m of the race, but he has got into a bit of a naughty habit in the barriers, so I think we are going to have to do some work on that to see if we can remedy it.”

Following Saturday’s run, Excite has drifted to $10 for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and James and Wellwood are currently contemplating their next steps to get him to the southern Classic.

“We are not certain where we a going to go with him yet,” James said.

Meanwhile, the stable will have a quiet week at the races, with just the one runner at Cambridge and Matamata on Wednesday and Saturday respectively.

Last season’s $4 million The NZB Kiwi (1500m) runner Zivou will resume in the Nems Medical 970, where he will get the benefit of apprentice jockey Abinith Simon’s four-kilogram claim.

“He’s fresh-up and it is probably a little bit short for him, but he has got enough pace to think that he can be competitive,” James said.

Stablemate The Precursor will take his next step towards the Gr.3 Martin Collins New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November when he heads to Matamata on Saturday, where the son of St Jean is nominated for three races, including the Listed Fairview Matamata Kaimai Stakes (1600m).

“He is on a New Zealand Cup mission, and he is doing everything we had hoped for at this stage,” James said. “We will have a look at those noms and try and place him as best we can. He will probably have one more run before he heads down for the Metropolitan (Listed, 2580m) and then the Cup.”

📸: She's A Dealer (middle) in the thick of the action in last Saturday's Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m). Photo - Peter Rubery (Race Images)

19/09/2026

A magical way to start off a big day ahead at Ellerslie with a win courtesy of Spellbound ✨

He brought raceday experience to the field today which aided in him picking up his debut win. A gun rail hugging ride from Corentin Berge 💪

Congratulations to his large ownership group Owner: A & G MacLeod, S Agnew, B Allen, S Gordon, S Hawkins, P & S Hogg, L Cudby, G Crawshay, B & M McLuckie, R Fleetwood, D Skipper, Trevor Sargent Family Trust & B Tupaea.

More to come this season for this talented son of Per Incanto 🪄

Haunui Farm

10/09/2026

TRAINERS’ ASSOCIATION BATON HANDED TO WELLWOOD

By Paul Vettise, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

Group One-winning horseman Robert Wellwood is looking forward to serving his industry colleagues, although keeping them all satisfied will be a challenge.

Wellwood has succeeded Shaun Clotworthy as National President of the New Zealand Trainers’ Association and acknowledged you can’t please all of the people all of the time.

“It’s a hard role because you can never keep everybody happy, I don’t think people quite realise what happens in the background and how much effort people put in of their own time,” he said.

“Without a trainers’ association you’ve got zero power, so it is important and it’s come around to my turn to do it.”

Wellwood is well aware of the short and long-term demands of the role but does have a strong team to work with.

“Obviously, it’s not a paid position and you end up being the go-to person for anything that happens,” he said.

“As NZTR (New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing) makes any decision you’re the touchpoint as far as the trainers go.

“We have got a good executive who do their thing in their own regions and (Executive Officer) Wendy Cooper is very good and manages all day-to-day admin.”

Wellwood has taken charge at a time when the Establishment Board has brought together NZTR, the TAB and Harness Racing New Zealand to deliver a program of reform.

“For the next 12 months, we’ve got to be focussed on supporting them to work together and make sure we’ve got a good and viable racing industry,” he said.

“We have to play a support role in any way we can to get the right outcome.”

It will be a quiet weekend for Wellwood and training partner Roger James, with their team only having three runners at Sunday’s Te Rapa meeting, including black-type prospect Grinzinger Moon.

The Puissance De Lune mare is unbeaten in two appearances for the stable and will resume in the Skycity Hamilton Waikato Cup – Tickets On Sale Now Handicap (1100m) with a scratching required to beat the ballot.

“She’s come back well and is in nice order, whatever she does she will improve,” Wellwood said.

Her longer-term aims are the Listed Donaldson Brown Pegasus Stakes (1000m) and Listed Lindauer Stewards’ Stakes (1200m) during the New Zealand Cup carnival.

“Depending if she gets a start on Sunday, she may not run again until Riccarton,” Wellwood said.

Meanwhile, the stable was happy with the unplaced resuming effort of their Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) winner She’s A Dealer in last Saturday’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m).

“She had a bit of a hard run and covered a lot of ground but has bounced through it well,” Wellwood said.

“We’re glad we’ve got three weeks up our sleeves to get to the mile (Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile) and perhaps even the 2000m (Gr.1 Livamol Classic), they will both certainly be right in her wheelhouse.”

Unfortunately, last season’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) winner Excite didn’t run up to expectations in his spring opener at Ellerslie.

“He’s well but fair to say we were probably a little bit disappointed with the performance,” Wellwood said.

“He only had a quiet 970m trial before going 1400m first-up and in hindsight we probably think he’s better ridden quietly.”

📸: Robert Wellwood has been appointed the National President of the New Zealand Trainers’ Association.
Photo - Megan Liefting (Race Images)

08/09/2026

Congratulations to Kingsclere Stables co-trainer Robert Wellwood who has been elected as the national president of the NZ Trainers' Association.

Robert Wellwood has been elected National President of the NZ Trainers’ Association, taking over from Shaun Clotworthy who has stood down from the role.

Wellwood was elected at the Association’s National Annual General Meeting yesterday and will lead the Association as it continues to advocate for trainers and their businesses across the racing industry.

The Association sincerely thanks Shaun for his commitment and leadership over the past five years. He has given generously of his time to represent trainers and has played an important role in the Association’s engagement with industry stakeholders.

The AGM also provided an opportunity for the National Executive to have frank and honest discussions with senior representatives from across the racing industry.

Guests included Jason Fleming (TAB NZ and Establishment Board), Paul Humphries (NZTR Chair and Establishment Board), Dr Eliot Forbes (Racing Integrity Board), NZTR CEO Matt Ballesty, NZTR General Manager Racing Mitch Lamb, NZTR Head of Licensing Matthew Williamson and Victoria McArthur, OnTrack.

The National Executive welcomed the opportunity to put questions directly to industry leaders and to ensure the views and concerns of trainers were clearly heard on matters affecting the industry.

Wellwood said he was looking forward to taking on the role and working with the National Executive and industry stakeholders to ensure trainers continue to have a strong voice in the future direction of New Zealand racing.

The Association congratulates Robert on his election and looks forward to supporting him in his new role.

03/09/2026

JAMES AND WELLWOOD LAUNCH SPRING ASSAULT AT ELLERSLIE

Roger James and Robert Wellwood will launch the spring campaigns of a trio of quality gallopers at Ellerslie on Saturday, headed by Group One-winning mare She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) in the Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m).

She’s A Dealer established her top-flight credentials last season with victory in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Trentham and will make her first appearance of the new term in Saturday’s weight-for-age feature.

The five-year-old has been readied for her return with a trial at Taupo and a subsequent gallop at Ellerslie, and while Wellwood expects her to improve with the outing, he is looking forward to seeing her back at the races.

“As you would expect for a Group One race, it is a good field, but she certainly deserves her spot, and we are really looking forward to seeing her step back out, knowing that she is going to be better going a mile or even further,” Wellwood said.

“She is loving being back. Sometimes these older mares take a bit longer to get back to good fitness.

“I thought her trial at Taupo was good, and post her gallop at Ellerslie, all reports were good. She is probably just half a step behind some of the others.

“She has only had the one trial, and there will definitely be improvement from Saturday’s run.”

The Cambridge trainers already have the early stages of She’s A Dealer’s spring mapped out, with the Gr.1 Howden Insurance Mile (1600m) next on the agenda before a decision is made on whether to remain in New Zealand for the Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) or pursue opportunities elsewhere.

“We will certainly head to the Howden Mile, and then there are a few options, whether we stay around for a Livamol or look elsewhere, but those first two runs are pretty much in concrete,” Wellwood said.

Earlier on Saturday’s programme, promising three-year-old Excite (Wootton Bassett) will begin his campaign in the Rich Hill Stud 1400m.

The c**t is already prominent in futures markets for the Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai 54th New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton, where he is currently the $8 second favourite.

“Hopefully he’s a Guineas horse of some sort. Unfortunately, he has drawn eight of eight this weekend, which isn’t going to make things easy,” Wellwood said.

“He looks to be a highly talented horse. He hasn’t had all the luck throughout his career.

“He was very unlucky in the Sires’ Produce Stakes at Trentham, and even though he won at Te Rapa, he ran into trouble there as well.

“So, from barrier eight, he shouldn’t have traffic problems this time. We think he is an exciting horse.”

The stable’s third runner at Ellerslie is The Precursor (St Jean), who will resume over 1600m as he begins a campaign aimed towards the Gr.3 Martin Collins 163rd New Zealand Cup (3200m) at Riccarton in November.

Wellwood is also keeping a close eye on another promising youngster in Shore Breeze (Too Darn Hot), who caught the eye in a recent Cambridge trial.

“Our filly Shore Breeze trialled very well at Cambridge, under no pressure,” he said.

The stable is likely to be a regular visitor to Ellerslie through the spring, with Wellwood pleased with the consistency of the renovated surface.

“With the track being redone, you know you are going to get good footing there,” he said.

“We typically like to race our horses on better ground, and good footing is almost guaranteed at Ellerslie. A lot of the time, the money is up there, so it is where you want to be racing.”

- NZ Racing Desk

📸: She’s A Dealer post victory in the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Trentahm.
Photo - Peter Rubery (Race Images)

17/08/2026

SIMON SCORES FIRST WIN

Apprentice jockey Abinith Simon’s grin was ear to ear at New Plymouth on Saturday after recording his first win in the saddle aboard Amira D'Argento in the Denis Wheeler Earthmoving (1600m).

Hailing from Bangalore, India, Simon was proud to have made his mark in New Zealand.

“It was a lovely feeling and I couldn’t be happier,” he said. “I am thankful to Taui Johnson (trainer) for giving me that ride and keeping me on her. It is a thrill leaving home and doing that in a foreign country.”

Simon had the one prior ride on Amira D'Argento, finishing runner-up behind Pegasus and premiership-winning jockey Craig Grylls, and he was rapt to go one better on Saturday.

“She ran second at Te Rapa where I got beaten by the best jockey in the country,” Simon said. “She definitely showed that she had the ability to win that race.

“I was confident that she was going to do something special. The ground was really testing, so I did have my doubts, but she just outclassed them and ran a super race.”

Simon first got involved with horses in his homeland, helping his uncle, who was a trainer.

“I was on school holidays and I went to spend some time with my cousins,” he said. “My uncle was a trainer, and I didn’t know anything about horses back then, and he asked me if I wanted to go around and look at the horses.

“I popped around to his barn and saw all these horses lunging and I thought it looked interesting. I started mucking out boxes and wanted to learn more about horses and I started riding.

Once I started riding, I couldn’t stop and when I was getting better, I thought it might be time to think about becoming a jockey.”

In a bid to further his career, Simon decided to come to New Zealand, initially working for Te Aroha trainer Peter Lock before he transferred to Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood, for whom he is apprenticed.

“I came to New Zealand in December 2022, and I worked with Peter Lock before I moved to Roger James because I was getting the chance to do my apprenticeship,” he said. “I have been here for three years and it has been fantastic.”

While working his way through his required trial rides to become an apprentice, Simon said Wellwood encouraged him to ride in the amateur jockeys’ series, and he is glad he followed his employer’s advice.

“Robert Wellwood recommended I ride in the amateurs while I was getting my trial rides done, and he said it would be good experience because they go a lot slower in the amateurs and it would be good for me to find the gaps, see the space and see how the pace of the race is,” Simon said.

“I think that was a game changer because it gave me the confidence to go out on the track and perform. I had fun riding in the amateurs, I had two placings.”

Upon becoming an apprentice, Simon accepted a place in the Elite Jockey Programme (EJP), and he said he is learning plenty in the course.

“I finished my trial rides and I got in the EJP, which I have been involved with since June, and it has been going well,” he said. “It is a great programme, and it has really helped me gain confidence in many areas.”

Simon is enjoying working for James and Wellwood and said it is a pleasure to ride for the Cambridge stable.

“The horses that they have are brilliant,” he said. “They have beautiful attitudes, they perform well, they are nice and fit horses, and they are a pleasure to ride.

“I have plenty of favourites, but one favourite of mine is Repeat Performance. He is a Pierro out of Repeat, and he is a wonderful horse. He is just so fluent in the way he works and travels nicely, I couldn’t ask for a better ride.”

While Simon was savouring his win on Saturday, so was his family, who partied into the day and night following his victory.

“They sent me a video of them partying on my behalf because I won,” he said. “It is awesome being many oceans away and being able to put a smile on their face, it just makes me really happy.”

Simon is hoping he can continue his winning momentum into Cambridge’s synthetic meeting on Wednesday, where he is set to ride Epilogue in the Saddlery Warehuse 1300 and Lady Iris in the TCL Earthworks 970.

“I am looking forward to those rides,” he said. “Lady Iris is running up against Pink Gin, who just beat her last time, but her sectionals were really good and over 970m with four kilos off her back, I think she should run a really good race.”

Simon is loving life in New Zealand, and he is looking forward to continuing to build his life in his adopted country.

“I would definitely love to call it home,” he said. “I think it is a very beautiful country. I have enjoyed my time here except for in the winters when it is really cold and frosty, but when the sun comes out it is beautiful.”

By Joshua Smith, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: Abinith Simon is all smiles after winning his first race at New Plymouth on Saturday. Photo - Peter Rubery (Race Images)

15/08/2026

A big congratulations to our stable apprentice Abinith Simon, who rode his very first winner today. We are so proud to see him achieving his goals, he’s a true testament to his hard work. Many more winners to come Simon ❤️🎉👏

10/08/2026

SHE’S A DEALER ON TARGET FOR PROISIR RETURN

High-quality mare She’s A Dealer will be given an early opportunity to strike again at the top level, with the daughter of Ace High set to trial ahead of a crack at next month’s Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie.

The five-year-old will spearhead the older division of Roger James and Robert Wellwood’s stable in the spring, while the Cambridge trainers also have an abundance of three-year-old talent in their ranks.

She’s A Dealer has won five of her 12 starts, including success in the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) in breeder Rich Hill Stud’s colours.

“She will trial next Sunday at Taupo and from there we’ll probably look at heading to the Proisir Plate,” Wellwood said.

“After that, there’s the mile (Gr.1 Howden Insurance, 1600m) and then there’s multiple options for her. We’ll see how she’s going and make a plan from there.”

She’s A Dealer hasn’t raced since she finished fifth in the Gr.3 JRA Plate (2000m) at Randwick in the autumn.

Fellow mares Arabian Songbird and Grinzinger Moon are also making good progress toward later targets.

“Arabian Songbird is probably a month from a trial and we’re hoping to kick her off in the Spring Sprint (Gr.3, 1400m) on the last day at Hawke’s Bay,” Wellwood said.

The daughter of Pierro has won two of her last three starts and was spelled after running fourth in the Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m).

Grinzinger Moon was successful on four occasions in Australia before the Puissance De Lune five-year-old relocated to Cambridge and won both of her starts over 1100m at Ellerslie from her new quarters.

“She’s also probably three weeks to a month off a trial and we may look at heading down to the two sprint races (Listed Pegasus Stakes, 1000m and Listed Stewards’ Stakes, 1200m) at Christchurch and she’ll have a graded race prior to that,” Wellwood said.

Meanwhile, last season’s Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) hero Road To Paris has returned to the stable after a decent break following his midfield finish on a wet track in the Gr.1 Australian Derby (2400m).

“He’s back in but probably won’t start until later in the year, he had a reasonably big autumn so we’re certainly in no rush with him for the spring,” Wellwood said.

Among the more forward of the three-year-olds is Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes (1400m) winner Excite, who enjoyed a quiet trial at Cambridge last week.

“We’re really happy with him and he’ll probably gallop at Ellerslie on August 27 and then step out in an age group race over 1400m at Ellerslie on the Group One day,” Wellwood said.

“It’s three weeks from there to the Hawke’s Bay Guineas (Gr.2, 1400m).”

Last start Listed Ch*****ne Stakes (1600m) winner Incandescent, Spellbound and St Monica will be out and about later in the term.

“They are all a fortnight or three weeks behind Excite, he didn’t have all that long out,” Wellwood said.

Spellbound has yet to win but did place in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes (1100m), while St Monica was successful on debut and then finished sixth in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m).

– By Paul Vetisse, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk

📸: She's A Dealer is set to kick off her spring preparation in next month's Gr.1 Proisir Plate (1400m) at Ellerslie. Photo - Peter Rubery (Race Images)