Proisir Mare Levante Goes Back to Back in Listed Counties Bowl

Media Release - Saturday November 20

Class galloper Levante once again showed just what a talent she is when she when she made it back-to-back victories in the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) on Saturday.

Levante cruises to victory in the Listed Haunui Farm Counties Bowl (1100m) at Te Rapa Photo Credit: Race Images – Kenton Wright

Last year the Ken and Bev Kelso-trained mare had set tongues wagging when she scorched home from last on the turn at Pukekohe to win the Listed race with ease carrying 53kgs.

Twelve months on and with two further black-type wins under her belt, along with a Group One placing in the Sistema Railway (1200m) at Ellerslie, the daughter of Proisir carried 59.5kgs to claim a second edition of the race, this time conducted at Te Rapa due to COVID-19 restrictions.

The Matamata-trained mare had prepared for her season opener with a winning trial over 1000m on her home track, along with two exhibition gallops on raceday, and connections were confident of a forward showing.

Crucially the five-year-old mare cleared the gates well and was given a perfect ride by Ryan Elliot settling midfield behind a hot tempo.

Levante levelled up to race favourite Babylon Berlin with a furlong to run and despite being challenged by Roch ‘N’ Horse in the closing stages, she cruised to the line to win with ears pricked by just on a length in a slick 1.02.07 for the 1100m journey.

“I was very pleased to see her jump and put herself there as it has been a problem for her when she gets back,” Ken Kelso said.

“She jumped away cleanly and got forward which was a big help.

“She’s very bright and very well, so you have to be happy with that.

“I’m not sure what we will do with her now. She will either go straight to the Railway (Gr.1, 1200m) or maybe give her another one before that.

Advertisement

“We’ll take her home and have a think about it as last year she had a trial before the Railway, so we may elect to do that again.”

Elliot was having his first ride on the mare since finishing an unlucky second aboard her in the 2020 Gr.2 Wellington Guineas (1400m) following four consecutive victories.

With the mare carrying light weights over the past twelve months, Samantha Collet took the ride with Elliot unable to make those weights and he was delighted to reunite with one of New Zealand’s most exciting gallopers.

“The way she has come back this season is unbelievable,” Elliot said.

“She jumped so well that I was actually in front of the leaders for the first few strides and I was wondering what I should do.

“I elected to drop in behind and give her a breather on the hot pace and that really helped after making that fast start.

“She is a dream to ride as she does everything right and is just a pleasure to do anything with.”

Levante has now won eight of her 12 starts for her owners that include Ancroft Stud’s Phillip Brown and his wife Catherine, former Waikato Racing Club Chief Executive Tony Enting and his wife Mary, along with former touring golf professional Mark Tapper. – NZ Racing Desk

Visit the profile page for Proisir

Proisir in upcoming sales:
Advertisment

Race Result - Haunui Farm Counties Bowl LR 1100m

Te Rapa Track: Good(3) Time: 1:02.87
1
Levante
- 5m Proisir (AUS) x Island Doy (GB) (Doyoun (IRE))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: R T Elliot 59.5
2
0.8
Roch 'n' Horse
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Rochfort (NZ) (Cecconi (AUS))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: A C Goindasamy 53
3
2.1
Babylon Berlin
- 4m All Too Hard (AUS) x You Can't Say That (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: B W Foote Rdr: L J Allpress 55
All Too Hard
4
4.1
Vamos Bebe
- 5m I Am Invincible (AUS) x Hurtle Myrtle (AUS) (Dane Shadow (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: D S Johnson 53
5
5.4
Gino Severini
- 8g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Green Castle (IRE) (Indian Ridge (IRE))
Tnr: B Wallace & G Cooksley Rdr: V A Colgan 60
6
6.7
Johny Johny
- 4g Charm Spirit (IRE) x Galway (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: T & M Carter Rdr: L H Satherley 53
7
6.8
Short Fuse
- 7m Per Incanto (USA) x Only Explosive (NZ) (One Cool Cat (USA))
Tnr: G Richardson & R Norvall Rdr: T D Thornton 53
8
6.9
Montana Mist
- 5m Per Incanto (USA) x Monarch (NZ) (Volksraad (GB))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: T L Newman 53
9
8.5
Only In Jakarta
- 6m Snitzel (AUS) x Bella Corona (AUS) (Beautiful Crown (USA))
Tnr: A Oliveira Rdr: C J Grylls 53
10
8.9
Its Destinys Child
- 8m Castledale (IRE) x It's My Destiny (NZ) (Magic Ring (IRE))
Tnr: J & R Vance Rdr: M Cameron 53
More Reading...
$140,000 NZB Ready to Run Graduate Books Ticket to G1 Victoria Derby
Bred for stamina being by Melbourne Cup winner Shoicking from a daughter of Tavistock, talented Kiwi bred three-year-old Azazel has booked his passage for the Gr.1 VRC Derby (2500m) on Saturday week after a tough victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers 3YO Geelong Classic (2200m) at Geelong on Thursday.
Henry Longfellow Pedigree Gets an Update
Group I winning Dubawi stallion Henry Longfellow (IRE) is covering his first Australian book of mares at Rosemont Stud this spring and overnight in Ireland his two year-old sister-in-blood landed her first Group race win.
Breeding To Win – 2025 G1 MVRC Cox Plate
An emotional week in Australasian racing approaches its crescendo as we count down to the final Cox Plate before a radical new era in its history begins and we mourn the passing of one of its greatest champions.
Premier Racing Stables for Sale in New Zealand
A unique opportunity to get a foothold in the heart of thoroughbred country in New Zealand has arisen offering both functionality and prestige within an ideal base to pursue racing success in the leading equine region in the country.
One To Watch – Belmont
We look far and wide to highlight Breednet’s ‘One To Watch’ and today’s winner of the first race at Belmont, 3yo D’Argento filly Ladies Pro, won in the manner of a horse with a nice future and in the process shone a spotlight on her sire who recorded his ninth winner so far this month.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday October 21
Here is the full list of 15 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Tarzino Stayer Wins G3 Geelong Cup
Trainer Paul Preusker will get another tilt at a Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) after Torranzino ran out a strong winner of the Gr.3 Geelong Cup (2400m) on Thursday.
2025 G1 Spring Champion – Pedigree Preview
A lot of attention is paid to the sprinting three year-old division and much less so to the stayers, but with $2million in prizemoney the Group I ATC Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday has attracted a full field of 14 and all of them are on trial at the trip.
One to Watch – Mornington
In Cox Plate week it only seems fitting that the 2013 winner Shamus Award would give us a ‘One to Watch’ at Mornington on Thursday.
$400,000 Invincible Filly a Grand Investment
A three-quarter sister-in-blood to dual Group I winning mare Charm Stone, stakes-placed I Am Invincible filly Naifah always looked well bought at the 2025 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale for $400,000.