08 March 2026
Derby success ingrained in Kingsclere’s very being
Astute trainer Roger James claimed the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) for a record seventh time on Saturday when Road To Paris (NZ) (Circus Maximus), ridden by George Rooke, defeated stablemate Autumn Glory (NZ) (Ocean Park) in a stirring edition of the race.
Despite his wayward tendencies, the son of Circus Maximus dashed passed the runner-up to score comfortably and survived a double protest before being confirmed as the winner.
The victory provided James’ training partner Robert Wellwood with his second New Zealand Derby success and reaffirmed the appropriate name of the duo’s Kingsclere Stables.
“I often reflect on it (Derby success) because when I went training on my own, I wanted a name for the stable,” James said. “I pondered what race would I most like to win in my career and naturally it was the Derby.
“So, I researched the home of the Derby in England and a name kept coming up that had housed a number of winners of the Epsom Derby. It was Parkhouse Stables in Kingsclere, so that’s how Kingsclere Stables got its name, and it’s been very good to me.”
Home to no less than ten Derby winners, including the great Mill Reef, Parkhouse Stables set a particularly high bar.
But Kingsclere Stable’s Classic ambitions show no signs of abating, with Road To Paris now likely to cross the Tasman after coming through his Ellerslie exertions well, with the Gr.1 Australian Derby at Randwick on April 4 a logical target.
James and Wellwood have long had Derby aspirations for the Ron and Judi Wanless bred and raced gelding, but his unique quirks have and continue to provide his conditioners with some headaches.
“He is a lovely horse around the stable, but he can be quirky to work with,” James said. “He has done a few U-turns and left riders in mid-air in his work as well as on raceday. It’s a shame that he’s like that because he has unlimited ability and hopefully he will grow out of it.
“But sometimes the riders suffer because of his quirkiness, and I see George got 12 days suspension and a ten thousand dollar fine, which was a bit of a dampener, really.
“As a two-year-old, we labelled him as a Derby horse. He just had a lovely, relaxed way of going, he always breathed beautifully in his work, a very economical action and just looked like he would stay all day.
“We could see that he had a turn off foot and if they can stay and have a turn of foot, they have got a very big chance in a race like the Derby.”
James and Wellwood will now work with connections of each of their three Derby runners to determine plans going forward, including Oaks fourth placegetter Ariadne (NZ) (Almanzor) who finished 12th on Saturday.
“Ariadne will definitely go to the paddock,” James said. “She was always the frailest one to get ready and we pushed the boat and lined her up again after the Oaks. Was it the right thing to do? I still think it probably was, but her lack of maturity showed out yesterday.
“Autumn Glory, I have yet to speak to Yulong (owners) as to what their plans are with her, but she has had two mile and a half races in a fortnight, so she is due a spell as well.
“Road To Paris I have yet to really discuss with the owners and connections but I would think Sydney is very much on the plan for him.” - NZ Racing Desk
Geneva gives Hoskin Group One glee
Kylie Hoskin has had a frustrating season with her promising three-year-old Geneva (NZ) (Time Test), but he made it all worthwhile when running third in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on Champions Day.
“I am absolutely rapt, it was awesome,” Hoskin said. “That was my first runner in a Group One so to get the third placing I was over the moon.”
However, the race wasn’t without its frustrations, with race winner Road To Paris shifting inwards in the concluding stages, causing interference with placegetters Autumn Glory and Geneva, and while jockey George Rooke was suspended for 12 meetings and imposed a $10,000 fine, the placings stood.
“There was obviously that bit of interference in the straight when he was coming up to them, which was unfortunate, but I am still really happy that he was able to switch ground, pick up again and keep trying,” Hoskin said.
“Ben (Thompson, jockey) rode him a treat, he got him into a really nice position and got him travelling nicely. He said he was still quite strong, because it has been a problem with him not settling, but I thought Ben did a great job with him.”
Geneva, who was bred and is raced by Jomara Bloodstock, won his only start as a juvenile but has taken his connections on a frustrating ride as a three-year-old, winning just one and place in another of his of his previous nine starts this season.
“He has been really frustrating,” Hoskin said. “If it is not a weather event it is a bad draw or a bad ride, nothing seems to go his way. At times he hasn’t helped himself either, but the ability is there, he has just got to put it all together.”
While a decision has yet to be made on Geneva’s immediate future, Hoskin hasn’t ruled out crossing the Tasman to tackle some feature three-year-old races.
“He left a couple of handfuls of feed this morning, but he seemed pretty bright and happy, and nice and sound, so all signs point to him coming through it great,” Hoskin said.
“I haven’t spoken with connections yet and we are still soaking in yesterday, so I am not sure what his next steps will be.
“Nothing is out of the realm of possibility. The Derby is what we had been working towards and I hadn’t looked further than that. He looks like he will stay well and Ben said that distance was definitely not a problem.”
Later on the card, Hoskin picked up another runner-up result courtesy of Transaction (NZ) (Ocean Park) in the Entain/NZB Insurance Pearl Series Final (1400m).
“She went super but was unfortunately on the rail and just got shuffled back in the running,” Hoskin said.
“Ben gave her a really good ride, he made smart decisions. Instead of waiting for luck, he slotted her back and went out and around them to give himself space. Once she got room she was really hitting the line strong.
“She has just gone from strength to strength this prep. She is really tough and honest and tries really hard.
“She will like a bit of cut out of the ground and she goes either way, so we are just going to have a look around. Obviously getting some black-type for the fillies is great, but we will probably look at a (rating) 75 mile for her somewhere and go from there.”
Hoskin was delighted to get a couple of nice results on Champions Day, and the South Auckland horsewoman was rapt with the turnout oncourse for New Zealand’s biggest day in racing.
“It was such an amazing day – the crowd, the atmosphere, the racing – it was really super,” she said. “There is nothing better than looking up and seeing those grandstands chocka." - Joshua Smith
Kevin Robertson
Joshua Smith
