Roger James was resigned to defeat when legging jockey Warren Kennedy aboard Apostrophe at Hastings on Saturday, so he was pleasantly surprised to be greeting them at the winner’s stall following the Worlds Best Sprinter – Lucky Sweynesse Premier.
Stablemates Orchestral and Paragon hold upcoming Group One nominations, although connections are approaching the business end of the spring with flexibility.
In a thrilling finish to the Listed Phils Electrical & Gipsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m), Cambridge visitor and race favourite Itza Charmdeel got in the deciding stride at the winning post to claim the two-year-old feature at Otaki.
Smart filly Orchestral ran out a dominant winner of the Agritrade Valagro 2YO Maiden (1200m) at Hawke’s Bay on Tuesday for trainers Roger James and Robert Wellwood.
New Zealand is delivering everything experienced jockey Warren Kennedy had yearned for when he made the bold decision to relocate from South Africa five months ago.
