Cambridge trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood have enjoyed a spectacular summer with their three-year-olds, and they are hoping Saturday’s Gr.2 Life Direct Wellington Guineas (1400m) at Trentham brings more of the same.
Three-year-olds from Kingsclere Stables have recorded five stakes wins since November 30, kicking off with a four-length romp by Zabmanzor in the Gr.3 Wellington Stakes (1600m) at Otaki. That talented Almanzor colt later went on to finish second in the Gr.1 Levin Classic (1600m) at Trentham, where he was beaten by a long head by Quintessa, then ran fourth in the Gr.2 Waikato Guineas (1600m).
Sudbina stormed home from last to take out the Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on January 20, while the eight weeks since then have seen Orchestral make Ellerslie her own with extraordinary performances in the Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m), the Gr.2 Avondale Guineas (2100m) and the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m).
The headline act for the in-form stable this Saturday is the Wellington Guineas favourite Irish Legacy, who was arguably unlucky not to add to the stable’s three-year-old roll of honour in her last-start third placing in the Gr.3 Mufhasa Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.
She found herself near the tail of the Mufhasa Stakes field and hopelessly blocked with 300m remaining, but rider Ryan Elliot weaved a way through and she dashed into an eye-catching third behind Certainly and Moet Down. She clocked the fastest last 800m (46.48 seconds), 600m (34.25) and 200m (11.52) in the race.
The Mufhasa was only the second career start for the blue-blooded filly, who had outclassed her maiden opposition by almost three lengths on debut at Taupo on February 14.
The daughter of champion Australian sire I Am Invincible races in the colours of her breeder and part-owner Christopher Grace. She is the first foal out of Grace’s superb mare Shillelagh, who won the Gr.1 Cantala Stakes (1600m) and Gr.1 Empire Rose Stakes (1600m) at Flemington.
“She’s obviously a beautifully bred filly and has made a really good impression in both of her races so far,” Wellwood said. “She won very easily on debut, and then we threw her straight in at the deep end for a Group Three race in her second start and she certainly didn’t disappoint. She had a bit of a luckless run, but the way she finished the race off was quite outstanding.
“She’s done everything really well since that race. She’s a very athletic filly and doesn’t take a lot of work, but she’s continuing to progress very well and we’re really happy with her.”
Irish Legacy will be accompanied on the trip to Trentham by Apostrophe, who will contest the Gr.3 Wentwood Grange Cuddle Stakes (1600m).
The six-year-old daughter of Tavistock has had only two previous starts at the Wellington track, storming home to win a Rating 75 over 1600m in December of 2022 and launching a similarly powerful finish for a close second in the Gr.3 Anniversary Handicap (1600m) in January of this year.
Apostrophe’s only start since then was in the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) at Tauherenikau, where she dropped well back in the running and was never able to move through her gears.
“Wellington is a track that really suits her,” Wellwood said. “She can be a bit slow out of the barriers, but a big, fair track like Trentham gives her a better opportunity to overcome that.
“She’s going into this race in good shape. She had a very nice gallop between races at Taupo last Friday. She’s probably going to be retired to stud at the end of this preparation, so we’d love to see her pick up a bit more black type before that happens.”
