Kawakawa to relish extra distance in Wellington Stakes
Richard Edmunds - Raceform • November 28th, 2025 3:00 PM
Sunday’s Gr.3 Jennian Homes Wellington Stakes at Otaki will be a step up in both class and distance for last-start maiden winner Kawakawa, but co-trainer Stephen Gray believes the extra 200 metres will only help his promising filly.
Kawakawa is by Per Incanto out of the unraced Savabeel mare Savaplay, whose full-sister Coldplay won six races including the Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile, Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes, Gr.3 Eagle Technology Stakes and Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes. Stephen Gray Racing and co-buyers Toking and Wattle Bloodstock paid $160,000 to secure the filly from Waikato Stud’s draft in Book 1 of Karaka 2024.
Fifth over 1100 and 1200 metres in the first two starts of her career, Kawakawa improved to third over 1400 metres at Waverley on October 19 and then led all the way for an impressive maiden victory over the same distance at Tauherenikau on November 1.
“We’ve entered her for the Fillies’ Stakes at Wanganui on Saturday as well as the Wellington Stakes, but I think we’ll go to the mile at Otaki,” Gray told RaceForm. “She’s looking for that trip now and will probably get 2000 metres in time. She’s that type of filly.
“She won in good style the other day. She’s nicely bred and will only continue to get better with time. We’ve got a lot of time for her and she’s a lovely filly. She doesn’t have to win this week, but we’d expect her to run very well and then we can push on towards some nice fillies’ races at Trentham.”
Those potential targets include the Gr.3 Eulogy Stakes on December 20 and Gr.3 Desert Gold Stakes on January 17, both over 1600 metres, and then the 2100-metre Gr.2 Lowland Stakes on January 31. Further down the track, Kawakawa is rated a $41 chance for the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks, which will this year be run at Ellerslie on February 21.
Gray, who trains in partnership with his father Kevin, will also have a strong hand in Sunday’s $80,000 Levin Truck Services Levin Stakes. The stable won the sprint feature last year with Idyllic, who returns to defend her title, and she will be joined by her promising stablemate Cosentino.
The latter has won four of his 10 starts and was a close last-start third in an open sprint at Waverley on November 14. After being held up for a run in the straight, he closed to within half a length and a neck of Belles Beau and Bold Belle.
“He went really well,” Gray said. “He’s quite a promising horse but is still a long way from getting everything right.
“He was probably a bit stiff last start and could have just about won it with a clearer run. But he got to the line nicely and we were thrilled. We didn’t really know what to expect going into that race, with him having that Polytrack form.
“Rohan Mudhoo is up here with us now and gets on particularly well with this horse. He’s a horse that can go bit too boldly at times, but Rohan is able to get him to settle, which is really important. He stays on this weekend.
“The horse has quite a good future if he gets his head right. He’s still a young horse and he’ll be better in the autumn.”
Idyllic was sixth in that same Waverley race after being taken on in front.
“She is what she is,” Gray said. “She loves to run along, and if you take her on, it’s likely to bring you undone. That’s what happened. She probably needed the run as well.
“She won this race last year and loves Otaki. She’ll bounce into this race a lot fitter and her work has been good. She’s a big improver.”
Gray also has a good opinion of the stable’s other runners this weekend.
“Kodiac Bear was a very good second in his first start,” he said. “He’s a lovely little horse and can really gallop. I like the Hello Youmzains, they’re runners, and he’s a really natural runner.
“Our Akashinga has been unlucky in her last two runs. She’s dropping back to Rating 65 here, and I think class drops are a significant factor. She’ll run well, especially if there’s cut in the ground.
“We’ve got a couple of nice chances at Wanganui too with Tears Of Victory, another one dropping back in class with an apprentice claim, and Tivaci’s Affair who looks well handicapped. She’s in super order and will run well fresh.”
