News - REDWOOD (GB)
As New Zealand Racing Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson prepares for his shot at again winning racing's Holy Grail, he has revealed to Trackside: "I'm just lucky to be alive".
There is a distinct Kiwi flavour to the 191-strong nominations for December’s LONGINES Hong Kong International Races (HKIR), headlined by New Zealand-bred Australian stars Antino and Mr Brightside.
Friday's Gr.2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) is looming as a crucial guide to New Zealand's chances of Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) success.
The Tony Gollan-trained Antino trounced his rivals to win the Gr.1 Toorak Handicap (1600m) under a masterful ride by Blake Shinn at Caulfield on Saturday.
Graeme Rogerson has seen promising signs that Sharp ‘N’ Smart is rediscovering the form that earned him Horse of the Year honours as a three-year-old, but Saturday’s Gr.1 Turnbull Stakes (2000m) at Flemington will put his resurgence to the test.
Smart galloper Antino is building towards a return to the racetrack with an early season Group One target high on the agenda.
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Jabbawockeez (NZ) (Redwood) scored his first victory over 2000m with a potent finishing burst in Saturday’s A$130,000 Sportsbet Nobody Does It Easier Handicap at Caulfield.
Hamilton trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson have enjoyed welcoming back a number of their stable stars this week ahead of their spring preparations.
New Zealand-bred star Antino put a frustrating spring campaign behind him with a superb first-up performance in Saturday’s A$300,000 Gr.2 U&U Recruitment Victory Stakes (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
After going to the line untested when fourth in the Listed The Sofitel (1400m) at Flemington, the Redwood gelding Antino again carried the weight of punters in Sunday’s Group III Ladbrokes Sandown Stakes (1500m) at Sandown-Hillside, and it was a considerably easier watch.
Trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson could find themselves in search for a new jockey for Sharp ‘N’ Smart come Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) time following the release of the weights for the time-honoured race on Tuesday.
The champagne was flowing at Westbury Stud’s table at the New Zealand Thoroughbred Horse of the Year Awards in Auckland on Sunday night following Sharp ‘N’ Smart being crowned IRT Champion Three-Year-Old of the Year and SENZ Horse of the Year.
A rousing trackwork gallop at Te Rapa on Tuesday has convinced Hamilton trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson that their stable star Sharp 'N' Smart is at the top of his game leading into his first Group One assignment of the season.
New Zealand-bred mare Our Red Morning enjoyed a soft kill at Sandown on Wednesday over 1300m when scoring by just over a length in the hands of Craig Williams as she made it three wins in succession for trainer Greg Eurell.
Graeme Rogerson can’t wait to tackle spring racing with his star galloper Sharp ‘N’ Smart following his pleasing exhibition gallop at Te Rapa on Saturday.
It may not have been a pretty win, but it was a win nonetheless for Solidify in the Poverty Bay Turf Club 3YO C&G (1100m) at Taupo on Wednesday.
Sarah Hurrell took out her trainer’s license to continue Half Of Nothing’s racing career, and the grey mare rewarded her efforts when recording her first training win at Hawera on Sunday.
Exciting New Zealand-bred gelding Antino is being readied for a spring campaign with Champion Queensland trainer Tony Gollan keen to target Melbourne with the son of Redwood.
Exciting New Zealand-bred galloper St Lawrence is continuing his rapid rise through the grades, collecting the sixth win of his seven-start career in the A$130,000 Catanach’s Jewellers Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
New Zealand-bred filly Our Red Morning staked her claim for potential black-type assignments in the spring with an effortless victory in Saturday’s A$150,000 Neds Bet Back Handicap (1400m) at Caulfield.