Zabeel Classic (Group 1)

VICTORIAN trainer Gavin Bedggood celebrated his second Group 1 win after taking his Roaring Lion gelding Kingswood across the Tasman to tackle the 2,000 metre Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic on St Stephen’s Day at Ellerslie.

The €130,000 purchase from the 2021 Goffs Ireland Orby Yearling Sale by Glyn and Jane Davies, settled near the tail of the nine-horse field as a pedestrian pace ensued.

Dissatisfied, jockey Rory Hutchings let Kingswood roll just before the 800-metre mark, whipping around the field to take up the running and round the turn with a four-length advantage. Beautifully judged, Hutchins got Kingswood home by two lengths. Second was the Iffraaj mare Jaarffi, just shading the Proisir mare Legarto.

“They just kept getting slower and slower up the hill and I thought we were not going to be able to peg back horses like El Vencedor and Legarto that were a lot closer to the speed running at three-quarter pace mid-stage,” said Hutchins who only got the ride after a Johnny Allen suspension.

Caught napping

“When I went, I made sure I went really quick. I knew I caught them napping. He went from 0 to 100 in one stride and he sustained that all the way to the winning post. That is a trait of a very good horse.”

“I am a realist, he is not top echelon in Melbourne,” said the former jumps jockey Gavin Bedggood. “But he is a bloody good B-grader and I think on his day in Melbourne he would be competitive in an Australian Cup (Group 1, 2,000 metres).

“It is good to be vindicated, and it makes the decision worthwhile coming over. He can have a week in the paddock and can probably hang around (in New Zealand) for the (February 7th) Herbie Dyke (Stakes, Group 1, 2000m) and the (March 7th) Bonecrusher (Stakes, Group 1, 2000 metres) now I think.”

THE Group 1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner on her previous start, Well Written, remains unbeaten after winning the Group 2 Auckland Guineas over 1,400 metres at Ellerslie on St Stephen’s Day.

Ridden by Matt Cartwright for trainer Stephen Marsh, the Written Tycoon filly, a $1.20 favourite at her fourth start, settled mid-field before looming into the race on straightening.

Te Akau Racing’s Snitzel colt, He Who Dares had a nice break on the field at the top of the straight but found himself overwhelmed in the final 50 metres. Third was the Yes Yes Yes gelding Affirmative Action.

“I might have expected her to kick a little bit better, but today is not her grand final,” said Cartwright. “She is a little bit underdone but still got the job done. She is such an exciting filly and she has put her head out when it counts. It’s just a privilege to ride her.”

Karaka Millions

Ahead for Well Written lies the NZ$1.5 million Karaka Millions 3YO on January 24th over 1,600 metres with the $4 million NZB Kiwi over 1,500 metres six weeks later on March 7th.

This was her third group win from four starts and her second start in Yulong’s green silks.

“I am just proud of her and I thought Matt did a great job. I said to him to nurse her until the last little bit, don’t go for her too early, and he did exactly that,” said Stephen Marsh of the $80,000 buy from the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Online Yearling sale.

“I think she is one out of the box, she is brilliant. I felt a bit of pressure today, but I am certainly relieved now, and it makes it all worthwhile.”

JOE Doyle landed his 32nd New Zealand Stakes win at Ellerlie on St Stephen’s Day when he guided Tellum to victory in the Group 2 Eight Carat Classic over 1,600 metres for fillies and mares. Riding for Debbie Sweeney, Doyle settled the Ocean Park filly perfectly to take up the running before establishing a break on straightening. With a sharp kick, Tellum defied her challengers to win by a length from the El Roca filly Lollapalooza and the Cool Aza Beel filly Fleeting Star.

“This is extra special as she is a tough filly who has shown a lot the whole way through,” said Sweeney of the filly that was passed-in on a reserve of NZ$50,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2024.

“It is a great team of owners, 47 or 49 of them, and I’m so thankful to them. There are a lot of characters in there and when she won at Te Aroha they were all in the pub at Papamoa and having an absolute blast. I did say to Joe that she does like to be on pace and I couldn’t believe how easily she was travelling.”

Racing for the Flying Mullet Racing Syndicate, Tellum has won three of her seven starts for just over $180,000 in stakes.