07 March 2026
Legarto salutes in Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes
In what could be her swansong in New Zealand, class mare Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) put in her best performance at Ellerslie when she stormed home to collar a game Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) and claim the Gr. 1 Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (2000m) on Saturday.
It made for a welcome change of luck for trainers Ken and Bev Kelso who had to endure the nightmare scenario of their sprinter Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) crashing through the running rail when set for victory in the Gr.3 Haunui Farm King’s Plate (1200m) two races earlier.
Bidding for successive weight-for-age triumphs after taking out the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) a month earlier, punters were prepared to disregard Legarto’s seemingly average race record of just one win from six starts at Ellerslie by installing her the $2.30 favourite in the contest.
Rider Opie Bosson was content to sit back on the daughter of Proisir, allowing Aussie raider Kingswood (Roaring Lion) to set a steady pace in front before moving into contention from the 600m.
Kingswood went for gold on the corner but was quickly headed by Waitak, who looked set for victory at the 150m before Bosson and Legarto appeared out wide and charged after him.
Bosson timed his run nicely as the mare hit the line a head to the good of Waitak as Tuxedo (NZ) (Tivaci) stormed home late to take third ahead of Jaarffi (NZ) (Iffraaj).
Kelso was grateful his day had turned around, reporting that Alabama Lass had come through her mishap with no major injuries while praising his middle-distance champion, Legarto.
“It is really what they call the ups and downs of racing after what happened in the sprint,” Kelso said.
“I’m very proud of this mare as she is one out of the box and a horse you only get once in a lifetime.
“Bev and I have been very fortunate to have had her.
“It’s quite an emotional win as it is probably the last time you will see her on a New Zealand race track.
“Alabama Lass is fine, just a bit stiff and sore obviously and with a wound high up on her back, but she can go out for a spell now.”
Kelso admitted he didn’t have any real concerns during the race, even when he felt Legarto may have a been positioned a little far back at one point.
“I thought she was a fair way from them and had a bit of work to do, but she was always going to show her turn of foot,” he said.
“We are going to talk to Phillip Brown (part-owner) and the connections as the Australian Cup (Gr.1, 2000m) is an option for her.
“I think people may have forgotten how good she is, but she now has five Group One wins.”
Legarto was bred by Warwick Jeffries and was offered by Highline Thoroughbreds during Book 2 of Karaka 2021, where part-owner Phillip Brown purchased her under his Ancroft Stud banner for $90,000.
During her 24-start career, Legarto has recorded 12 wins and five placings with five of those wins at Group One level including the 2023 Gr.1 Australian Guineas (1600m). Saturday’s victory took her career earnings past $3.16 million.- By Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Winner: Legarto (NZ) 2019
Owners: Mrs C J & P H Brown, A C & Mrs M E Enting, W J Foster, Mrs B J & K S Kelso, A M & Mrs P J Kirton, G & M Maloy & E J Verheyen
Trainer: Ken & Bev Kelso / Matamata
Breeding: by Proisir (AUS) out of Geordie Girl (NZ) by Towkay (AUS)
Breeder: W E Jeffries
Sales: 2021 National Yearling Sales Series V: Highline Thoroughbreds $90,000, P: Ancroft Stud
Road to Paris leads to Derby Gold
The name Roger James is synonymous with the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) and the Cambridge conditioner has done it once again when he and training partner Roger Wellwood produced the quinella in this year’s HKJC World Pool-sponsored Classic with Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus) and Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park).
James had won the feature three-year-old staying contest on six prior occasions, starting with freakish filly Tidal Light (NZ) (Diagramatic) in partnership with Jim Gibbs in 1986, and 40 years later he made it win number seven, and his second with Wellwood after Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) triumphed in 2024.
This time the pair had to sweat at every start with the enigmatic Road To Paris who has proved a handful during his races, throwing away victory in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) in November by dislodging rider Masa Hashizume in the shadows of the post, while he also ducked in sharply when closing gamely behind That’s Gold (Lucky Vega) in his final Derby lead-up event, the Gr. 2 Avondale Guineas (2100m).
The application of side winkers on Saturday looked to have worked the oracle on the son of Windsor Park Stud-based stallion Circus Maximus as he lobbed along comfortably near the tail of the field for rider George Rooke before slowly improving at the 600m on the back of stablemate and Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) runner-up Autumn Glory.
That pair stormed to the front at the 250m and set down to fight out a nail-biting finish which went in favour of Road To Paris by a length, with Geneva battling home gamely for third.
The drama didn’t end there though as Road To Paris dumped jockey George Rooke as they cantered back to the birdcage, while shortly afterwards the protest siren sounded with a judicial inquiry convened to look at interference by the winner against both placegetters over the final 150m.
Despite some definite tightening from Road To Paris, the protest was dismissed and the gelding held the win.
“I’m elated as we were super happy with all three of our horses,” James said.
“We felt we had a huge show until the barriers came out - Road To Paris (13), Ariadne (NZ) (Almanzor) (14), Autumn Glory (15) - and we were pretty deflated.
“There were two super rides on the first two and in fact all three rides were huge. There is a big build-up to these days and this is very special.
“He (Road To Paris) is untapped but he has to improve his manners. This is also super for George (Rooke) as he has had a few rough times lately and we have stuck with him; he has stuck with us and that was one of the coolest Derby rides you will ever see.
“I think we may look at Sydney with the winner if he comes through this, but I think the filly has probably done enough for now.”
Bred and raced by Ron and Judi Wanless, Road To Paris is out of the four-time winning Savabeel mare Spirit Of Heaven, who is a three-quarter sister to Gr.1 Schweppes Oaks (2000m) winner Lights Of Heaven.
He is the first Group One winner for Windsor Park Stud’s promising young sire Circus Maximus, a triple Group One winning European miler by Galileo, who was also represented in the race by Towering Vision (NZ) (seventh), with both horses being from their sire’s first New Zealand crop. - By Kevin Robertson, LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
Winner: Road to Paris (NZ) 2022
Owners: Ron & Judi Wanless
Trainer: Roger James & Robert Wellwood / Cambridge
Breeding: by Circus Maximus (IRE) out of Spirit of Heaven (NZ) by Savabeel (AUS)
Breeder: Mrs J M Wanless
Joshua Smith
Kevin Robertson
Joshua Smith
Kevin Robertson
Joshua Smith
Kevin Robertson
