2YO Winner for El Roca

Media Release - Saturday October 9

Flashy chestnut filly Gwen Stephani showed she had taken plenty from an unplaced debut run at Whanganui last month when she rocketed home to claim victory at just her second start at Matamata on Saturday.

Darren Danis guides Gwen Stephani to a comfortable victory at Matamata Photo Credit: Race Images – Kenton Wright

The two-year-old daughter of El Roca had closed off nicely to finish less than three lengths from the impressive winner Cincoro that day but was largely ignored by punters for her second run, starting at odds of better than $18 in the seven-horse field.

Rider Darren Danis bounced Gwen Stephani out nicely from the inside barrier but was happy to settle her in third as stablemate Ready To Reign burned to a sizeable early lead in the 1000m contest.

Race favourite Order To Charge, who sat off the leader throughout, took over comfortably early in the run home but was ultimately claimed by Gwen Stephani, who relished the strongly run contest.

Prepared at their Tuhikaramea base by Team Rogerson, Gwen Stephani could be in line for a trip to Christchurch to tackle the Listed Welcome Stakes (1000m) on November 13.

“She has just improved out of sight from Whanganui and I think that first run was a lot better than it looked,” Graeme Rogerson said.

“Her work has been superb and she galloped with one of my other good juveniles in Gibraltar Rising (third at Whanganui) during the week and more than held her own.

“I guess her stablemate helped out today by taking off like she did, which wasn’t the instruction for her, but you had to like the way the winner found the line.

Advertisement

“She’s a very strong filly and I’m going to have to sit down and work out what we do with her.

“I am thinking about taking a couple of the two-year-olds down to Riccarton for the stakes race there, so she is a candidate for that along with Gibraltar Rising.”

A $50,000 Karaka Book 2 purchase from the Westbury Stud draft, Gwen Stephani is out of the Fusaichi Pegasus mare Shezablonde and the filly Is named after platinum blonde Gwen Stefani, former lead vocalist for the band No Doubt.

El Roca is the sire of Gwen Stephani,  click for more information.

Rogerson advised that the stable would have a sizeable team heading to the final day of the Hawke’s Bay carnival next Saturday, headed by Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) contender Beauden and Gr.2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas (1400m) placegetter Drum Major.

“We’ve got a few to take to Hastings next week, including Beauden in the Livamol, while Drum Major will start in the three-year-old 1300m.

“We’ll also have Lowry there for an intermediate staying race and I think he is a real find for the summer staying races.”

Rogerson also confirmed that Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) winner Mascarpone would be seen next in the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua on October 17. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Matamata Veterinary Serv. Mdn 1000m

Matamata Track: Heavy(10) Time: 1:02.32
1
Gwen Stephani
- 2f El Roca (AUS) x Shezablonde (AUS) (Fusaichi Pegasus (USA))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: D J Danis 55.5
NZB Ready To Run Sale $10,000
Seller: Westbury Stud
Buyer: Mr H Chen
2
1.3
Order To Charge
- 2c War Decree (USA) x Colonel's Daughter (AUS) (Hinchinbrook (AUS))
Tnr: M Moroney & P Gerard Rdr: D S Johnson 57.5
3
6.8
Ready To Reign
- 2f Telperion (AUS) x Princesse De Paris (AUS) (Belong To Me (USA))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: S T Collett 55.5
4
9.1
Feel The Thunder
- 2f Thunder Down Under (AUS) x Red Alert (NZ) (Red Giant (USA))
Tnr: S Ralph Rdr: T L Newman 55.5
5
10.4
Speedrun
- 2c No Nay Never (USA) x Rockaroo (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: S R Weatherley 57.5
6
10.9
Annie James
- 2f Zacinto (GB) x Starbelly (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: K Rae & K Williams-Tuhoro Rdr: J J Fawcett 55.5
7
11.1
Texas
- 2g Rubick (AUS) x Testadrop (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: N P Bishara Rdr: B E Grylls 57.5
More Reading...
First SW For So You Think Stallion Tamasa As Cicala Takes Out Lightning
One of just three named foals by the So You Think stallion Tamasa, the Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea trained 3yo filly Cicala remained unbeaten, going three from three by winning the $120,000 Listed SAJC Lightning Stakes (1050m) at Morphettville.
Zoustar Filly Wander Dune Impresses On Debut In South Africa
Making her debut as favourite in the Race Coast Maiden Juvenile Plate (1200m) at Kenilworth, South Africa on Saturday, 2yo Australian-bred Zoustar filly Wander Dune impressed with an emphatic victory.
St Mark’s Basilica Filly Impressive at Ascot
Due back at Coolmore Australia this spring, St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) had an impressive new winner overnight at Ascot in the UK where Princess Petrol stormed to victory.
One to Watch Wins Again in Saturday Class
The half-brother to Group II winner Stretan Angel, lightly raced three year-old Brutal gelding Glorious Moments was in a class of his own at Randwick on Saturday.
Season Finale Flourish for So You Think
Coolmore stalwart So You Think is powering to the end of the Australian racing season with a six winner flurry on Saturday highlighted by a winning treble at Randwick led by his progressive mare Oh Diamond Lil.
Sires With Winners - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Consecutive Black Type Victories For Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz
Stepping up to open company is always a tough task, but 3yo Snitzel filly Bridal Waltz graduated from a last start Listed win over her own age to win the $200,000 Group 3 MRC Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Hello Youmzain Filly Wins NZ Last Stakes Race of Season
Talented juvenile filly Platinum Diamond made all posts a winner when she captured her second consecutive stakes victory in the last black type feature of the 2024-2025 racing season, the Listed Phils Electrical & Gypsy Caravans Ryder Stakes (1200m) at Otaki.
Farnan Draws Level with Ole Kirk on 13 Winners
There’s a good battle going to decide the leading first season sire by Australian winners and with just seven days of the season to run Farnan is laying down the gauntlet to the long time division leader Ole Kirk.
Sires With Winners - Thursday July 24
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.