Pencarrow Blueblood Salutes

Media Release - Saturday January 2

Promising mare Les Crayeres completed a winning double at Tauranga on Saturday when she took out the opening event on the card at the popular holiday racemeeting.

The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained four-year-old has now had four starts at the venue for two wins after breaking maidens there at her last start, with the promise of more to come from the impeccably bred individual.

Danielle Johnson guides Les Crayeres to victory at Tauranga Photo credit: Race Images – Kenton Wright

Bred and raced by Sir Peter Vela, Les Crayeres is by Redoute’s Choice out of Vela’s Zabeel mare Our Echezeaux, the dam of stakes performers Dolmabache, Pure Elegance and Cote D’Or while she also produced Frankel colt Tangmere who topped the 2016 National Yearling Sale at Karaka when purchased by an international consortium for $1.3m.

Advertisement

The Kelso team prepared Cote D’Or to win eight races, including the Listed Matamata Cup (1600m), with Ken Kelso comparing Les Crayeres favourably to her.

“She’s a very nice mare who has taken a little time to develop, but I think she has the talent to go further,” he said.

“Cote D’Or was a very good mare and I think this one is a lot like her, but with a better temperament.

“We took a soft option with her today, rather than throw her in the deep end at Ellerslie and she has done the job nicely.

“She will take a lot of confidence from that as she can get a little wound up at times.

“We will take her along quietly and make a decision as to whether we step her up to the mile next or keep her at 1400m.

“I think she has a lot of potential so we will be looking to try and get some black type with her where we can.”

Kelso also advised that stable star Levante had pulled up well from her exertions in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on New Year’s Day but would bypass the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham in favour of another Ellerslie target.

“We’re going to go to the Westbury Classic (Gr.2, 1400m) on Karaka Million night with her,” he said.

“We just think it is a better option than the Telegraph as it gives her more time between starts and with the race being run at set weights and penalties, she should come into it pretty favourably in the handicap.

“Being run over 1400m also has an appeal as I think I’ve stretched her to the limit over 1200m and she is looking to go further now.

“She pulled up really well and although we were disappointed at not finishing closer, the circumstances of the way the race was run really dictated to her.

“They pulled up to a walk from the 800m to the 600m and that pretty much put paid to her chances there and then.” – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Walt & Courtney Cavendish-Bm65 1400m

Tauranga Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:21.88
1
Les Crayeres
- 4m Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Our Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: D S Johnson 57
2
2.3
Speechmaker
- 6g Jimmy Choux (NZ) x Speechless (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: A D Fuller Rdr: S T Collett 58.5
3
3.6
Prince Kanto
- 5g Tavistock (NZ) x Guru Girl (NZ) (Ishiguru (USA))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: E A Mc Call 56
4
11.4
Inside Story
- 4g Tavistock (NZ) x Dame Mapperley (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: S D Cole Rdr: R T Elliot 58
5
11.9
Santori
- 4m Toronado (IRE) x Zanna (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: M & K Murdoch Rdr: J J Fawcett 54.5
6
12.7
Splendido
- 8g O'Reilly (NZ) x Vickezzchardonnay (NZ) (Don Eduardo (NZ))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: M Hashizume 55
More Reading...
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Castelvecchio Out for Remainder of Season
Aeliana’s late charge into second place in the $1.5million Group I MRC Thousand Guineas last Saturday stamped her as the filly to follow out of the race, but it wasn’t quite enough to put her sire Castelvecchio to the top of the second season sires list and he is now out of service at Arrowfield following surgery last week.
Best On Breeding
The cerise, white crossed sashes and black cap of Bob Peters, Peter's Investments, may not be the once dominant force they have been for decades in Western Australian racing, but they are far from finished.
Vale, Danny Champion
The thoroughbred racing industry is in mourning following the passing of respected horseman Danny Champion.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Pinhook Winners 2024 NZB Ready to Run – Churchill Colt the Star
A record breaking NZB Ready to Run Sale this week at Karaka delivered plenty of pinhook success with 18 two year-olds selling for $300,000 or more above their yearling purchase price, so let’s take a look at some of the best of them.