Kiwi Debut Winner for Makybe Diva

Media Release - Wednesday May 2

One of the greats of the Australian turf has made a dashing impact in New Zealand.

Surrey - Race ImagesA son of the three-time Group I  Melbourne Cup (3200m) heroine Makybe Diva made his long-awaited debut at Matamata on Wednesday and won in the style befitting of his illustrious parentage.

The Team Rogerson-trained Surrey stepped out for the first time in the Murray Wilcox Ltd Maiden (1600m) and a wide run did nothing to blunt the High Chaparral five-year-old showing a glimpse of the family talent.

"I've never had a maiden as good as him," Graeme Rogerson said. "He'll probably have two more runs this time and then we'll see what happens."

Surrey was among a package of horses Rogerson purchased earlier this year from leviathan Melbourne owner Lloyd Williams.

"Lloyd had him ready two or three times before he backed off and then said to me you'd better take this horse," he said.

"He might be back over there for the first Tuesday in November – I think he's that good."

Advertisement

Surrey, who had won at the Te Teko trials last month, ambled to the front at the top of the straight and he coasted clear to win by two and a-quarter lengths.

"He had big boots to fill and he did that today," rider Ryan Elliot said.

"He jumped out nicely and I was trapped three wide so I just cuddled him up until the 300m mark. He struggled in the ground and did it all on ability, he's going to go a long way."

A $275,000 Inglis Easter yearling purchase from the Milburn Creek draft, Surrey is Makybe Diva's fifth foal and her third winner. – NZ Racing Desk.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Stampede Runs Then Into The Ground in Colin Stephen
Stampede has been out of the winner’s circle since October last year but when the son of High Chaparral (IRE) is gifted an easy run in front, as he did in Saturday’s Group III Colin Stephen Stakes (2400m) at Randwick, he proves very difficult to get by.
Public Attention Sold to Hong Kong
New Zealand-bred three-year-old Public Attention will continue his racing career in Hong Kong following his recent sale.
Aussie Interest at JRHA Sale Next Week – First foal of Golden Slipper Winner
The 2025 JRHA  Select Foal and Yearling Sale will be held next week in Japan on July 14 and 15 and as usual there are some interesting entries for Aussie racing fans with a significant number of our star mares at stud in Japan including the 2022 Golden Slipper winner Fireburn.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 7
Here is the full list of 23 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Resolute Racing Win G1 Prix Jean Prat – Wootton Bassett Sire Power
A crackerjack meeting at Deauville in France overnight highlighted the power of Wootton Bassett (GB), who sired yet another new two year-old stakes-winner and he also featured as the grand-sire of Woodshauna, who captured the Group I Prix Jean Prat (1400m) for US based Resolute Racing.
Te Akau Stars Headed to Cranbourne
Te Akau’s Cranbourne barn has welcomed some exciting reinforcements ahead of spring racing, headlined by $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) heroine Damask Rose.
Oaks Winner Strikes Form at Valley
Quality High Chaparral (IRE) mare Princess Jenni won the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks last season at just her sixth start and showed she will be a force this spring when capturing the Group II MVRC Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Big Payday for High Chaparral's A Man To Match
No black-type but a Group 1 prize for the connections of the High Chaparral (IRE) gelding A Man To Match who not only pocketed the $145,000 winners cheque as the inaugural winner of the $250,000 The Tab Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast but had it topped off with another $200,000 for being a Magic Millions graduate.
Toronado Winner Sign of Things to Come
So You Think and Dundeel have set a high standard for sire sons of the late Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral (IRE) with Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) also showing the promise of good things to come after making a strong start to the new season with his fifth winner since August 1 at Sale on Thursday.
Group 1 Durban July Success For Son Of Australian Bred Gimmethegreenlight
Although not having previously sired a winner of South Africa’s greatest race, the Australian bred, South African-based sire Gimmethegreenlight (More Than Ready) added a 13th individual Group 1 winner to his record when the Dean Kannemeyer trained The Real Prince (SAF) added Saturday’s R5m Group 1 Hollywoodbets Durban July (2200m) to his record.