Quality Kiwi Mares Entered for MM National

Media Release - Thursday March 21

Team Rogerson will venture south to Riccarton on Saturday with three of their better credentialed mares, two of which are soon to be on the market.

Contessa VanessaThe partnership of Graeme, Debbie and Bailey Rogerson have multiple stakes winner and consistent performer Contessa Vanessa set to contest the meeting's feature, the Gr.3 Valachi Downs South Island Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m), while Gift Of Power and Nuclear Fusion will also appear on the undercard.

Runner-up in the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) and the winner of the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and the Gr.3 Sunline Vase (2100m) in her three-year-old season, four-year-old mare Contessa Vanessa has raced well this season without winning.

"She's been going really good races," Graeme Rogerson said of the daughter of Bullbars who has been installed a $1.90 favourite for Saturday's Group Three assignment.

"It was a terrific run last start behind the stablemate (Sandrine) and I couldn't be happier with her."

Should Contessa Vanessa perform to expectations she might continue on to the Listed Christchurch Casino Easter Cup (1600m), also at Riccarton, on April 6.

"She is certainly up there with the best horses, Danzdanzdance only beat her a half-head in spring, she is up there with them," Rogerson said.

"She is entered for the Magic Millions broodmare sale, but I have to talk to the owners still."

One mare who is definitely bound for the mid-year Queensland auction is well-bred filly Gift Of Power who will contest the Sonia & Garry Thompson Open Sprint (1200m).

"She is far better racing left-handed and last week we decided to run Volks Lightning and Ferrando in the Lightning at Trentham (Listed, 1200m), and take her to Christchurch.

"She is a very good horse, she is probably one of the most valuable broodmares in New Zealand, her pedigree is just unbelievable. You can't get any closer to Eight Carat than Gift of Power.

"Bailey bought her at the sales and we were always going to sell her when we were finished with her as she is raced by a syndicate.

Advertisement

"There has been interest from people from America and Japan and she is just a beautiful mare.

"I have sold some champion broodmares, including Vegas Showgirl the dam of Winx, and she is probably one of the nicest mares I have ever taken to a sale.

"She will probably run again down there in two weeks and then we may look at running her in Australia."

The Group Two winner has won 11 of her 22 starts to date.

Rogerson is also confident of a strong showing from Nuclear Fusion, who will contest a Rating 72 event over 1400m.

"She is a good mare that has had no luck in her last couple of starts but she did run super at Ellerslie, she will run well," he said.

Meanwhile, quality three-year-old More Wonder has undergone a minor operation after finishing 16th in the Gr.1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) earlier this month.

"We took a bone chip out of the back of his fetlock and he will go out into the paddock next week," Rogerson said. "He is a very good horse but he won't be seen out now till the spring."

Speaking just hours after landing in Hong Kong, Rogerson also confirmed that high-class sprinter Ferrando would not be campaigning internationally, despite holding a nomination for the Gr.1 Chairman's Sprint Prize (1200m) at Sha Tin on April 28.

"He is definitely not going, he is out until the spring," Rogerson said. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
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.
Lookalike Star Turn Colt Franks Hot Form Race
When Angel Ladder won the first race at Geelong coming out of the VRC Next Gen Series Sprinters Final won by Jimmy Recard, you would think punters would have looked closely at Redders in the following event coming out of the same race, but he slipped under their guard.
Spring Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at Warwick Farm on Friday morning with a couple of heats for Group and Listed winners that included Lady Shenandaoh, Ceolwulf, plus Cups contender Sir Delius (GB).
Kiwi Trainer Collects a Unique Double
Riccarton horseman Andrew Carston collected a winning double at his local synthetic meeting on Thursday, firstly as an owner and later as a trainer.
Breeding To Win – Crystal Ball – New Season 3YOs to Follow
Who are we highlighting this week? - Analysis of the G1 winning 3YO’s for this season has made us realise how many horses on this list took giant strides from two to three, so we are looking into the crystal ball to find some juveniles we believe could end next season as G1 performers if not G1 winners.
New Zealand Makes Presence Felt in Hong Kong’s 2024-25 Season
From a freakish sprinter with a (NZ) suffix to an exciting group of up-and-comers sourced from the Karaka sale ring, New Zealand’s influence was strongly felt on Hong Kong racetracks during the 2024-25 season.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Warwick Farm
Spring was in the air at the Warwick Farm trials with some of the big banger older stars in action and some exciting rising three year-olds that include a filly that has potential superstar written all over her.
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 - Friday July 25
Here is the full list of 49 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Inglis Digital Now Online - G1 Winner Velocious the Star
The G1-winning Champion 2YO Velocious (Written Tycoon) has been joined by a host of outstanding racing and breeding prospects in a tantalising Inglis Digital July (Late) Online Sale catalogue.