Saturday March 28, 2026
McDonald, Waller and Aeliana combine for thrilling Group One victory
Outstanding mare Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) provided the tried-and-true combination of trainer Chris Waller and jockey James McDonald with yet another Group One triumph as she lifted herself off the canvas to run down European raider Dubai Honour (Pride Of Dubai) in the Gr.1 Tancred Stakes (2400m) at Rosehill.
Just seven days ago McDonald had equalled the 129-win record for individual Group One victories held by Australian jockey Damien Oliver, when he piloted Aeliana to win the Gr.1 Ranvet Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill before breaking it on another Waller runner in Autumn Boy (The Autumn Sun) one race later in the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas (2000m)
A third Group One win aboard the unbeaten Autum Glory (The Autumn Sun) in the Gr.1 George Ryder Stakes (1500m) wrapped up the day and one week later Aeliana kept the ball rolling in a race she never looked like winning until 50m from the winning post.
Rider Tom Marquand took Dubai Honour straight to the front and kept the pace on throughout, as he shot his mount to a clear four length lead shortly before rounding the home bend.
McDonald had been keeping close tabs on his main rival and set out after him aboard Aeliana, who was giving it her all but not making an appreciable dent in the lead until the pair got within the shadows of the post.
The four-year-old daughter of Castelvecchio, who had showed her staying qualities when victorious in the 2025 Gr.1 ATC Derby (2400m), refused to give in and mounted one last challenge that took her up to Dubai Honour before thrusting her head in front to claim her sixth career victory and third at the highest level from just 18 starts.
Waller acknowledged the enormity of the task his charge faced in trying to run down Dubai Honour.
“It’s hard to beat a (William) Haggas horse when they’re being set for a race as Mr. Haggas does,” Waller said.
“He shows us what training’s all about when he comes down here. We knew we had to be on top of our game.
”Full credit to Aeliana, she’s a proper horse. She puts herself in the race, never let Dubai Honour get out of our sights. He threw the task at the 600 metre mark, probably a little bit earlier than what we liked but James (McDonald) just cuddled her and fortunately she was just strong to the line and we just got there in time.”
Waller admitted he was playing a hunch by backing Aeliana up just a week after her previous race.
“Just trusting your gut instinct more than anything,” he said.
“Her winning the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) was a big plus, so she’s won over the distance (2400m), so you’re not having to tick boxes. The only box we had to tick was the seven day backup. She’s eaten well, it’s been well publicised that she wasn’t a mature horse in the spring and she’s come back a different horse now.”
McDonald explained he had learnt plenty from the mare’s performance last week and put that into practice today.
“I had to be pretty patient on her because I learned a bit on her the other day,” he said.
“I wanted to learn from what I felt the other day. I thought even though it wasn’t ideal letting them get so far in front I had confidence that the mare would pick up.
“Once she balances up, she’ll find. Last time Nash (Rawiller on Lindermann) rode a terrific race and had me a little bit disorganised and I didn’t want that to happen today.
“Lucky we were on a superior horse and credit to the runner-up (Dubai Honour), he gave us one hell of a fright.
“About the 300m, I could feel her really building underneath me. I just felt if I went earlier and chased her I would’ve been just out of my comfort zone. It was a chance I was willing to take and I’m glad it paid off.”
Aeliana was bred by Nearco Stud and Rich Hill Thoroughbreds and is by Arrowfield Stud stallion Castelvecchio out of the Star Witness mare Temoli.
Her dam was secured by Rich Hill Stud for A$200,000 from the 2021 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale on the Gold Coast, when she was carrying Aeliana.
Purchased by Star Thoroughbreds for $180,000 from Rich Hill Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2023, Aeliana has now earned over A$4.444million from her six wins and six placings from just 18 starts. - NZTM, NZ Racing Desk
Winner: Aeliana (NZ) 2021
Owners: Star Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Boeara Holdings, Mrs A M Howlett, Mrs K A Pailthorpe, Felgate Holdings, Paramount Racing, Mr R B T Aurisch, Mrs D M Handley, Mr W A Smith, Mr B K Hudson, Forbson Group
Trainer: Chris Waller / Rosehill
Breeding: by Castelvecchio (AUS) out of Temolie (AUS) by Star Witness (AUS)
Breeder: Nearco Stud Ltd & Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd Sales: 2023 National Yearling Sale - Book1 V: Rich Hill Stud $180000 P: Star T/breds
Belle Cheval claims Group One prize in thrilling finish
Kiwi-bred filly Belle Cheval (NZ) (Savabeel) made a successful one-off raid across the Tasman on Saturday when she took out the Gr.1 Vinery Stud Stakes (2000m) at Rosehill by the barest of margins before surviving a protest from runner-up After Summer (The Autumn Sun) who claimed interference at the 200m mark had cost her the victory.
The blue riband contest was the sole entry on Belle Cheval’s dance card in Australia and after enjoying a lovely trip behind pacemaker Stand My Ground during the early running looked likely to stroll to a comfortable win when rider Zac Lloyd shot her to the front shortly after straightening.
Fellow Kiwi Ohope Wins (NZ) (Ocean Park) momentarily looked a danger shortly as she loomed out wide for rider James McDonald, however it was local fillies After Summer and Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) who laid down the sternest challenge, with the pair joining issue with Belle Cheval to fight out the finish.
As the trio hit the 200m mark Belle Cheval ducked out sharply into the path of After Summer, who in turn headed out to meet Salty Pearl before resuming a straight course to the line.
Fighting bravely, Belle Cheval put her head down at exactly the right moment to deny After Summer by a nose with a short neck to Salty Pearl and a similar margin back to Ohope Wins in fourth.
The protest siren sounded shortly afterwards and following a lengthy steward’s inquiry the race was settled in Belle Cheval’s favour, much to the relief of trainer Mark Walker who had seen his charge beaten by the same margin at her last start in the NZ$4million NZB Kiwi (1500m).
“It was the NZB Kiwi photo all over again,” Walker said. She just ran around a bit, but it was great for the filly.
“It’s a very special day, although I actually thought we got beaten, whereas I’d thought we’d won the NZB Kiwi.
“I was glad to see the photo.”
Walker was also quick to mention super sire Savabeel (NZ) (Zabeel), with Belle Cheval becoming the 36th individual Group One winner for the Waikato stud-based legend.
“She is by Savabeel, he’s been the perennial champion sire at home (New Zealand) for a long, long time,” he said.
“We’re going to miss him severely, as he’s getting on in years.
“But she is just a magic filly. She can have a nice break now and we’ll look forward to the spring.
“There will be no Oaks for her, she gets a rest.”
The victory also continued a stunning run for Lloyd who has been on fire in the biggest races of late.
“To do it for Mark Walker (obtaining a Group One victory), a top New Zealand trainer, it’s very pleasing,” Lloyd said. “A big thanks to him for putting me on.
“My friend Wiremu Pinn, who lived with me for a bit when he was here, he let me know that she was coming over and I should try and get on her. So, thank you to Wiremu, I need to give him a bit of a managers fee for that.
“They still had to choose me and luckily and thankfully for myself they did.
“Obviously she was stepping up to 2000m but the race panned out beautifully, they didn’t go an overly strong gallop which I didn’t want for her.
“She quickened very well and I’m very surprised to see the horse I pushed out at the top of the straight (After Summer - 2nd) come back and nearly beat me because she quickened very well away from it.
“She showed a bit of fight, normally she’s known for her dazzling turn of foot whereas today she built and showed a bit of fight. She’s a good mare and it was a tenacious win by her.”
Bred by prominent racing identity David Archer, Belle Cheval is a half-sister to his former three-time Group One winner Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux), and he races the filly in partnership with his partner Diane Wright and children Simon Archer and Natalie Micarone.
Belle Cheval has now won four and placed in three of her seven starts to date and accrued more than AUS$1.212 million in prizemoney. - NZTM, NZ Racing Desk
Winner: Belle Cheval (NZ) 2022
Owners: Mr D Archer, Mrs D J Wright, Mrs N Micarone, Mr S C Archer
Trainer: Mark Walker / Cranbourne
Breeding: by Savabeel (AUS) out of Keepa Cheval by Keeper (AUS)
Breeder: Archer Equine Investments Ltd
Like mother like daughter in New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes
Progressive mare She’s A Dealer (Ace High) followed in the footsteps of her mum Say No More (NZ) (Pentire) as she captured the Gr.1 Listen Live on Sportnation.nz New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) 14 years after her dam achieved the feat.
The Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained four-year-old benefitted from a change of tactics after earlier races on the day had fallen in favour of horses who were in or near the lead and stuck to an inside course in the home straight.
Wellwood didn’t mince words when describing those tactics after the victory.
“She is a fit and tough mare and was probably ready to go 2000m,” Wellwood said.
“We had a big chat with Roger (James) and George (Rooke, jockey) and we thought if we didn’t go forward and put her in the race we might as well put her on the truck back home.
“We put her in the race and it paid off so it was wonderful to get the result.”
Rooke followed the instructions to the letter as he had the daughter of Ace High placed one out and one back behind Afternoon Siesta (Shamus Award) as she and Special Sakura (NZ) (Staphanos) set up a steady speed in front.
Rooke made his bid on the mare rounding the home bend as she joined the first two before the trio set down to fight out the finish.
She’s A Dealer showed plenty of heart as she hit the front and held out Special Sakura, who fought back bravely, by three-quarters of a length with Afternoon Siesta holding out the flashing late run of Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) to claim third.
“She hasn’t had a lot of luck in this prep as she has been running very good races without the luck,” Wellwood said.
“She deserved that and Mum would be very proud as she won it a few years back.
“It’s a massive thrill for the team who work so hard and it is these sort of results that get everyone out of bed in the morning.
“She is a brave mare, a good mare and it is harder when they are only four as it is their first year against the older horses.
“That is not the last win you will see from her.”
Rooke was thrilled to get the victory after the plan that had been employed paid off.
“She’s been a very unlucky mare and we had no luck last time where she pulled a shoe coming out of the gates,” he said.
“We had no luck coming wide earlier in the day, so we thought we would take that out of the equation and sit wide as she is crying out for 2000m.
“I was very happy the way she was travelling and she is tough and loves running.”
Out of the two-time Group One-winning Pentire mare Say No More, She’s A Dealer was bred by John and Colleen Thompson under their Rich Hill Thoroughbreds banner. They race the mare with Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart and Peter Merton.
She has now won five of her 11 starts and over $602,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ NZ News Desk
Winner: She’s A Dealer (AUS) 2021
Owners: Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd, Mark Neill, Richard Kidd, Ian Hart & Peter Merton
Trainer: Roger James & Robert Wellwood / Cambridge
Breeding: by Ace High (AUS) out of Say No More by Pentire (GB)
Breeder: Rich Hill Thoroughbreds Ltd
Father-and-son quinella Sires’ Produce Stakes
Te Akau Racing continued their domination of New Zealand’s juvenile ranks when Seize The Day (I Am Invincible) comfortably took out the Gr.1 Courtesy Ford Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) at Trentham on Saturday, with the added bonus for co-trainer Sam Bergerson of having his father, Roydon Bergerson, quinella the race with Sweetest Thing (NZ) (Hello Youmzain).
Seize The Day was backed into a $2.80 favourite for the two-year-old feature, but he had punters anxious when he dislodged jockey Opie Bosson just before heading to the start, but the veteran jockey was able calm his charge and got around to the starting gates in one piece.
After jumping from his wide alley, Bosson took in the early state of play of the race and elected to press forward, eventually finding the parked position outside pacemaker Summer Schemer (Dirty Work).
Seize The Day loomed ominously at the turn and quickly hit the lead, and made light work of his opposition, running out to a 4-1/2 length victory over Sweetest Thing, with outsider Speed Demon (NZ) (Yes Yes Yes) a further half a length back in third.
“I took my time a little bit (at the start of the race) to see what was going to happen and I thought ‘I better get moving here, I am going to be caught three deep’, so I elected to slide forward,” Bosson said.
“It took a couple of strides for him to come back to me but once he did, he relaxed beautifully and I think it was the right idea to take the blinkers off.
“I wasn’t happy with his manners going to the start, but in the race they were perfect. He is a lovely big colt, has a massive stride on him and he is just so smooth underneath you. It makes my job easy.”
It was Te Akau Racing’s eighth win in the race in the last nine years and Sam Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker, was pleased his stable was able to clean sweep the juvenile Group One races in New Zealand this year, with stablemate Lara Antipova (Russian Revolution) having won the Gr.1 Sistema Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie earlier this month.
“He is just an outstanding colt and we have liked him from day one,” Bergerson said. “We thought he would have been racing a bit earlier than he was, it just took a while for the penny to drop.
“He is just going from strength to strength and it is so exciting to see him put in a performance like that. Opie summed it up well, he was in two minds at the start and he made the right choice.
“The way he quickened was really exciting. I thought he was travelling really nicely at the top of the straight and I thought ‘gee, I would love to stick the blinkers on him now’. Thankfully he just switched on and he has gone to another level since Matamata.”
Bergerson’s father Roydon was one of the first to congratulate him after the win and Bergerson said getting the quinella with his father was special.
“It is really cool to quinella it with Dad, it is pretty special,” he said. “He is almost as excited as me and he has run second.”
Roydon Bergerson was rapt for his son and said his filly will now head for a spell.
“He (Sam) has done a great job for Te Akau and it’s an honour to work there. I don’t mind getting beaten by him,” Roydon Bergerson quipped.
“I think she (Sweetest Thing) will be an outstanding three-year-old filly. She has always looked like she is going to be a three-year-old. She has just had so much ability the whole way through and we targeted this race. We had a few hiccups going into it, but we are proud of her and she will come back a nice filly. She is going out for a three-month spell today.”
Seize The Day was purchased by Te Akau Racing principal David Ellis, in partnership with Kia Ora Stud, out of Yarraman Park Stud’s 2025 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft for A$600,000.
He has now won two of his three starts to date and has earned more than $334,000 in prizemoney. - LOVERACING.NZ NZ News Desk
Winner: Seize The Day (AUS) 2023
Owners: Te Akau 2025 Magic Colts Breeding Syndicate (Mgr: Karyn Fenton-Ellis MNZM)
Trainer: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson / Matamata
Breeding: by I Am Invincible (AUS) out of Zimaretto (AUS) by Anabaa (USA)
Breeder: H J Mitchell & Yarraman Park Partnership, M Freedman
Kevin Robertson
NZ Racing Desk
Joshua Smith
Kevin Robertson
