Swansong for Supera in Classic

‘‘. . . the biggest disappointment was after she won at Matamata over 1400m that Covid hit us and we missed getting to the Thoroughbred Breeders.’’

Ken Kelso has rued missed opportunities with Supera as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, but he is hoping the Group I performer can claim that elusive status on her final race at Ellerslie today.

The six-year-old mare has placed at elite level on three occasions and Kelso thought the group I Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1600m) was ripe for the picking in April.

However, Covid-19 lockdown struck in March and it was not to be, and now Kelso, who trains in partnership with his wife Bev, will have one last crack at glory with the daughter of Savabeel, who is in-foal to US Navy Flag.

‘‘She has just been unlucky with one thing and another,’’ Kelso said.

‘‘I think the biggest disappointment was after she won at Matamata over 1400m that Covid hit us and we missed getting to the Thoroughbred Breeders.

‘‘I think that was her race. She got beaten narrowly the year before and it was just unfortunate Covid came, and that was one Group I that escaped.’’

She will line up in the Group I Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) today and Kelso is happy with her heading into the race after her last-start runner-up performance in the Group II Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m).

‘‘It was one of those days where horses went to the front and they were hard to peg back,’’ Kelso said.

‘‘Vinnie [Colgan, jockey of winner Showoroses] got soft sectionals in front and she found the line well, and it’s all you can ask for going forward to 2000m next start.

‘‘She has bounced through it very well and eaten well and has been working well.’’

■ Cambridge trainer Robert Wellwood is hoping his best Christmas

Ken Kelson

present can be unwrapped at Ellerslie today.

Wellwood, who trains in partnership with Roger James, has yet to win a Group I race but is hoping that can be remedied when Savabeel six-year-old mare Concert Hall tackles the Zabeel Classic.

‘‘We love Christmas racing. It’s so good to get up to Ellerslie and have a few nice horses in. I haven’t won a Group I race yet but hopefully that could be my Christmas present on Boxing Day,’’ he said.

Concert Hall goes into the Zabeel Classic as the winner of eight of her 22 starts, following wins in the Group III Thomson Handicap (1600m) at Trentham and Group II Tauranga Stakes (1600m) with a fastfinishing last-start second to Rock On Wood in the Group I Captain Cook Stakes (1600m) at Trentham.

‘‘Her run at Trentham was supergood,’’ Wellwood said. ‘‘The track didn’t quite suit her. Vinnie [Colgan, jockey] said at the top of the straight her wheels were spinning but the way she hit the line was superb.’’

TAB bookmakers have Concert Hall and Rock On Wood as joint $4.20 favourites with Supera just behind at $4.60.NZ Racing Desk