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A strong representation at Rotorua on Wednesday gives Graeme and Debbie Rogerson a chance to add to their fine record with two-year-olds this season.
The husband and wife training partnership have four youngsters entered for the Marks Ewen & Associates 2YO with debut placegetter Prodigal Son heading the group and joined by first starter Shadow Tower, Moonraker and Attila, who was left one on the ballot list when acceptances closed.
The Rogersons struck early with their two-year-olds and have produced 10 individual juvenile winners who have contributed to almost a third of the stable’s 64 wins this season.The youngsters have won 21 races with Serena Miss, Magic Dancer, Jacquetta and Maritimo all being black-type winners and two-times winner Reminisce gaining Group One and Group Two placings.
“We’ve had a good run with our two-year-olds and a lot of the good ones are back in work and getting ready for next season,” said Graeme Rogerson.One of the best-performed of the group is Serena Miss, who won two of her five starts including the Gr.2 J. Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders Stakes, and was an unlucky runner-up in the Gr.3 Wakefield Challenge Stakes.
“She’s done well during her break and she’ll go to Melbourne for the VRC Oaks if she comes up,” said Rogerson. “She’s a lovely filly.”Missing from the Rogerson task force next season will be Castamere, who won twice and has since been sold to Hong Kong.
While the proven two-year-olds in the team are ticking over awaiting the new season, Rogerson is confident he can pick up a share or two of the prizemoney in the Rotorua event.Prodigal Son, bred and raced by Denise Howell, was unplaced in two trials before missing the kick and running on for second behind Five To Midnight at Otaki earlier this month.
”He’s a brother to Marenostro who has won his last three for Chris Waller in Sydney,” said Rogerson. “He’s going to make a nice three-year-old.”Shadow Tower, a Postponed gelding raced and bred by Gerry Harvey, was unplaced in his sole trial, at Cambridge last month, and will be ridden by Craig Grylls.
“He’s a great big type, similar to Lamarosa and Castmere,” said Rogerson. “He needs the education.”Moonraker and Attila are by Prodigal Son’s sire, Duelled, and both are raced by Rogerson. Moonraker finished ninth on debut at Te Aroha behind Duke Of Millfield, while Attila was fourth in his second trial and will be looking for improvement after tailing the field home in Prodigal Son’s debut.