Proisir filly Wins 3YO Winter Championship

Media Release - Saturday June 28

Matamata trainers Ken and Bev Kelso sent Levakia on a big road trip on Saturday in search of reasonable track conditions, and the plan paid off with victory in the $60,000 ITM/GIB 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Ruakaka.

Seventh over 1400m and 1500m in two appearances at Te Rapa in April and May, the Proisir filly stepped up to 1600m on Saturday and was strongly backed into $2.90 second favouritism behind Acapelago.

Levakia winning the ITM/GIB 3YO Winter Championship Final (1600m) at Ruakaka on Saturday. Photo: Therese Davis

Jockey Jasmine Fawcett took up a midfield position in fifth along the rail, then angled Levakia to the outside coming up to the home turn. She warmed into her work stylishly down the straight, finishing over the top of Casemiro to win by half a length.

“She did a good job today,” Ken Kelso said. “It’s a big trip to Ruakaka, but it’s not a bad stake for this time of the year and we thought she’d appreciate the better track conditions up there. We also have a feeling she might be a little bit better right-handed. So it worked out well today.

“We’ll get her home now, have a look at her and make a plan. We won’t be in any rush with her. She doesn’t like the really heavy winter tracks, and going all the way to Ruakaka and back is a big day – we wouldn’t want to ask that of her too many times in a preparation.

“She’s continuing to improve with a bit of time. In the long run I think she might get up over a bit more ground. She’s out of a Rip Van Winkle mare and can take a while to really wind up, so a bit more distance might be her go eventually.”

Advertisement

Saturday’s race was Fawcett’s first raceday ride on Levakia.

“We ended up in quite a handy position, and then I got her out before the turn and I knew she was going to have a good turn of foot in the straight,” she said. “They sent her up here today for a better track, which she seemed to appreciate.”

Levakia has now had nine starts for two wins, three placings and $63,815 in stakes.

The promising filly races in the colours of Ancroft Stud’s Philip and Catherine Brown, who along with co-owners Tony and Mary Enting have had an incredible run with daughters of Proisir in the Kelso stable – headed by the multiple Group One winners Legarto and Levante.

Levakia was offered by breeders Curraghmore in the 2023 NZB National Online Yearling Sale on Gavelhouse Plus, where Ancroft Stud bought her for $105,000. – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk.

Advertisment

Race Result - ITM/GIB 3yo Winter Championship Final 1600m

Ruakaka Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:37.49
1
Levakia
- 3f Proisir (AUS) x Rose's Girl (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle (IRE))
Tnr: K & B Kelso Rdr: J J Fawcett 55
2
0.5
Casemiro
- 3g Contributer (IRE) x Mistaar (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: Ms J K Mahoney Rdr: A Lawson-Carroll 56
3
2
Mulan Ardeche
- 3f Dundeel (NZ) x Ardeche (NZ) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: T C Moodley 54
4
6.8
Customized
- 3c Capitalist (AUS) x Single Sapphire (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: S D Cole Rdr: S T Collett 57
5
9.3
Altari
- 3c Savabeel (AUS) x Bohemian Lily (NZ) (O'reilly (NZ))
Tnr: Mark Walker & Sam Bergerson Rdr: V A Colgan 57
6
11.6
Vadanova
- 3f Vadamos (FR) x Stepanova (AUS) (Danehill Dancer (IRE))
Tnr: S & K Alexander Rdr: E H Nicholas 54
7
13.4
Dupont
- 3g Belardo (IRE) x Mazikeen (NZ) (Sebring (AUS))
Tnr: Ms J K Mahoney Rdr: Rihaan Goyaram 56
8
15.7
Acapelago
- 3f Belardo (IRE) x Acapela (NZ) (Elusive City (USA))
Tnr: S & K Alexander Rdr: K A Myers 56
More Reading...
Promising Winner for Proisir
Ken and Bev Kelso have a knack for unearthing quality fillies, and they may have another one on their hands in Levakia, who broke through for her maiden win in impressive fashion in the Dunstan Horsefeeds 1400 at Pukekohe Park on Wednesday.
2025 G1 The Metropolitan Field and Barrier Draw
Chris Waller and Ciaron Maher are set to have half of the Group I Metropolitan field between them with the Waller trained Birdman an easing favourite after drawing a wide gate for Saturday’s race.
Tara Talks Racing - Insights from a Legend - Darren Beadman
Beiwacht upstaged his more fancied rivals to win the $1million Group I ATC Golden Rose last Saturday in course record breaking style to become the hottest colt in Australia giving us the opportunity to chat to a legend that has been very much involved in his story so far.
Equimillion This Long Weekend – Draws and Start Lists
Racing NSW have their annual Equimillion event coming up this long weekend at Sydney International Equestrian Centre at Horsley Park and for people interested in off the trackers it’s a showcase for the sport, so let’s take a look at who’s who in the zoo.
Karaka Million Dreaming for Out of the Blue
Te Akau Racing marketing manager Julia-Rose Hayes has had plenty of success syndicating horses selected by her father, David Ellis, and that has continued with her latest syndicate.
Autumn Glow Epsom Challenge - Just How Big Is This Task?
With the unbeaten Autumn Glow set to run as the first odds-on favourite this century in the Epsom Handicap on Saturday we thought we’d run some data to see how big this mountain is that she’s attempting to climb, and turns out, it’s pretty big.
2025 G1 Epsom Handicap Field and Barrier Draw
The field and barrier draw has been decided for the Group I Epsom Handicap on Saturday with odds-on favourite and unbeaten mare Autumn Glow drawing the extreme outside gate in a field of 14.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday September 30
Here is the full list of 27 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
She's Unusual Keeps Good Times Rolling
Continued success with resident stallion Unusual Suspect and their racing team has kept Nigel and Adaire Auret busier than they may have envisaged, but without any complaints.
Resolute Racing Purchase Top Lot Goffs Orby Day 1
The Goffs Orby Yearling Sale kicked off overnight and the top lot on Day 1 was a colt by Blue Point purchased by John Stewart’s Resolute Bloodstock for €675,000, while Wootton Bassett produced the top selling filly, whose half-brother Trinity College is now in Australia.