26 March 2026
Exciting pair primed for Group One challenge
Juvenile stablemates Excite (Wootton Bassett) and St Monica (St Mark's Basilica) are in tip-top order for early shots at Group One glory at Trentham on Saturday.
The youngsters have impressed from limited opportunities and trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood couldn’t be happier with the duo, who are viewed as exciting longer-term prospects.
However, they have earned their spots in the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) following strong starts to their career.
Wootton Bassett’s son Excite has finished runner-up in both his appearance, the first behind Ronaldo (NZ) (Ribchester) at New Plymouth and then at Matamata to Seize The Day (I Am Invincible), with those two currently heading Saturday’s market.
“He’s a very nice horse and only had the one trial before he went to the races, so he’s just been finding his way,” Wellwood said.
“He continues to thrive, he’s a pretty exciting horse and while he will handle a wet track to some extent, we would rather see him on a good deck.
“Whatever we see from him this preparation, he’s going to be better as a three-year-old.”
St Monica was a clear-cut winner of her only start at Tauherenikau where the daughter of St Mark’s Basilica comfortably accounted for Butler Cabin (NZ) (Ardrossan) who had finished fifth in the Karaka Millions at his previous run.
“She’s quite immature and will definitely be better at three, but she has showed a lot of ability,” Wellwood said.
“She will relax and is quite push button, it’s quite hard to split our two but the colt is probably a bit bigger and stronger at this stage.”
Meanwhile, She’s A Dealer (NZ) (Ace High) has been in good touch preparing for the Gr.1 Listen Line On Sportnation.NZ NZ Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m).
The Ace High four-year-old has won twice this campaign and most recently ran second in the Gr.3 Cuddle Stakes (1600m).
“If the rain comes, it might help her from the wide draw (18) and by that time of the day it could be better out in the middle of the rack,” Wellwood said.
“It will be tough against some very good mares at weight-for-age, she would be better suited in a handicap, but we are very pleased to have her there the way she has been working.”
Stablemate December (NZ) (Shamexpress) has fared even worse with barrier 21 in the Listed Bramco Granite & Marble Flying Handicap (1400m) in his bid to go one better on his runner-up finish in the event 12 months ago.
“That’s made it hard for him, the step up to 1400m will suit him well but are going to have to hope for a bit of luck from the draw,” Wellwood said.
Promising Proisir four-year-old Young Jackson (NZ) (Proisir) will kick off the team’s day when he steps out in the Resonant MAAT (1600m).
“He’s had a few races thrown at him pretty quickly and has put his hand up,” Wellwood said.
“He’s has had a little bit more space to get to this one and it will be interesting to see what he does, he’s another one who we are looking forward to getting back next spring.” - Paul Vettise
Anderson Bridge earns stakes tilt
Kevin and Stephen Gray are riding the crest of a wave with talented gelding Anderson Bridge (NZ) (Savabeel), and they are hoping that continues at Trentham on Saturday where he will make his New Zealand stakes debut in the Gr.2 Intowin.co.nz City Of Palmerston North Awapuni Cup (2100m).
The son of Savabeel was purchased by Stephen Gray, in partnership with Wattle Bloodstock, out of Bhima Thoroughbreds’ 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for A$200,000 while he was training in Singapore, and Anderson Bridge was subsequently entrusted to the care of leading Sydney trainer Chris Waller.
Anderson Bridge won one of his 19 starts for Waller, and ran fifth and sixth respectively in the Gr.2 Tulloch Stakes (2000m) and Gr.3 Frank Packer Plate (2000m), before he crossed the Tasman last year to join the Grays’ Palmerston North barn.
He has thrived in New Zealand, winning three of his four starts, and has earned a tilt at stakes level, which he will get at Trentham this weekend where he has drawn barrier eight and will be ridden by stable rider Bruno Queiroz.
“He has come from the pre-trainer Chris Waller very well,” Gray quipped. “He came back here and probably did what everyone thought he would do.
“I knew it (Awapuni Cup) was a special conditions race, but when I look at it, he is badly off in the weights. But I think it is worth having a crack at and he is going well.”
Gray is looking forward to stepping his charge up over further ground this weekend and believes his future lies over those middle distances.
“Going forward, if it doesn’t get too wet, I am keen to get him over ground now and give him that opportunity and we will see what happens,” he said.
Gray will also head to Trentham with promising three-year-old gelding Loose Jewels (NZ) (Turn Me Loose).
The son of Turn Me Loose has made a good impression on his handlers, who initially set him towards the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) before those plans were thwarted.
“He is a really good horse,” Gray said. “I was going for the Derby and he hurt himself at Otaki in the tie-up stalls, so that stopped any chance of going to the Derby.”
Loose Jewels resumed in the Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1600m) a Trentham last week where he finished seventh, and Gray believes the seven-day back-up into this Saturday’s Gr.3 Higgins Concrete Manawatu Classic (2100m) is ideal.
“He went to Wellington the other day, jumped away okay but Craig Grylls (Origin Of Love (Snitzel)) outrode everyone and we got too far back,” Gray said.
“A seven-day back-up from a break I think works. He will get the distance and I think he is a good chance. He is a pretty handy horse.”
Gray was contemplating heading to Trentham with three runners on Saturday but opted to line-up promising filly London (NZ) (Capitalist) in the Weir Tours (1200m) at Hawera on Wednesday, and that decision proved to be a winning move.
“She did well, I think she has got a good future,” Gray said.
“I did nominate her for Wellington for the three-year-old race on Saturday. I wasn’t scared on ability to go there but I just felt mentally and physically she is not ready to go to Trentham to take the more experienced three-year-olds on.
“I looked at the weather report and I decided to go to Hawera to give her another trip away for experience and get her head right because she hasn’t been easy.
“I was pretty impressed with her yesterday, she did a good job. Bruno rates her extremely well, he said she is one of the better fillies he has ridden.”
Stakes assignments are now in the offing for the daughter of Capitalist, with the Gr.3 Windsor Park Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa on ANZAC Day in the crosshairs.
“It would be nice to get black-type as a three-year-old,” Gray said. “The Breeders’ Stakes is such a hard race to win, but I am considering it.” - Joshua Smith
NZ Racing Desk
Joshua Smith
Joshua Smith
NZ Racing Desk
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