Veteran stayer Roger That took out the Listed Staphanos Classic (1950m) at Rotorua on Sunday under a perfect ride by Lynsey Satherley.
The ten-year-old son of Shinko King was an impressive winner of the Gr.1 Auckland Cup (3200m) in 2020 for Tauranga trainer Antony Fuller, with Sunday’s success the second stakes victory of the gelding’s career.
Fresh-up off the back of a Waipa trial in which he finished second, Roger That lumped topweight of 60kg and got under the guard of punters who sent him out the $19.70 outsider of the field.
Roger That raced fourth throughout behind a speed set by Cherry Lane and was presented at the top of the straight, finding the front and fighting on gamely to defeat Aromatic and Le Sablier.
“I thought he trialed up really well but I didn’t expect him to win with 60 kilos on his back. I thought it was a pretty awesome effort to be fair,” winning rider Lynsey Satherley said.
“Whenever I have ridden him at Rotorua he has always gone a really honest race.
“He might be a ten-year-old but they haven’t over-taxed his legs, he has been well looked after.”
The gelding is now likely to head to the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2050m) at Pukekohe on Melbourne Cup Day, with another tilt at the Auckland Cup, a race in which he finished fourth earlier this year, the likely long-range plan.
Roger That has now won eight races and in excess of $500,000 in prizemoney.
He was the third winner on the Rotorua card to come out of an open 1150m trial at Waipa won by Quick Preview, with Kabugee and Bayarmaa, who were both unplaced in the heat, also saluting earlier in the program. – NZ Racing Desk
