Sweet Treat Wins Listed Staphanos Classic

Media Release - Saturday October 19

In just his first full season of riding and with just one winner under his belt, 28-year-old apprentice Joshua Kam secured the biggest moment in his fledgling career when he guided $43 outsider Sweet Treat to victory in Saturday’s Listed Staphanos Classic (1950m) at Rotorua.

Sweet Treat - image Trish DunnellUnable to claim any of his four-kilogram allowance due to the conditions of the stakes race, Kam gained the ride on the Team Rogerson-trained mare after several other riders had turned down the mount.

Not that that bothered Kam as he produced a heady effort to guide the Ekraar six-year-old home with a rails-hugging ride, holding out a wall of horses headed by Opaki visitor Charlie Horse and the Stephen Marsh-trained Strolling Vagabond.

“It was a good win as she is a funny little girl,” Graeme Rogerson said.

“I was just talking to Jo Smithies (part-owner) and told her I offered the mount to about eight other jockeys and they all said they would get a better ride.

“She was carrying 53kgs and he (Kam) couldn’t claim but he did what I asked him and I think the little bit of wet ground helped her.

“She’s won a good handicap now so we’ll have a look and we might go to the New Zealand Cup (Gr.3, 3200m) next.”

Kam was having trouble keeping a broad smile of his face as he spoke about the victory on the track where he had scored his only other success when winning aboard Ottavio back in July.

Advertisement

“I’m lost for words,” he said.

“I have so many people to thank, the owners and Graeme and Debbie (Rogerson), for giving me the opportunity.

“I was real nervous before the race but I’m just stoked.

“She jumped out great and was travelling real good. I wanted to go out three-wide in the straight but there was an opening just off the rail, so I thought she was travelling good enough so we went up there and she got me home.”

Bred by the Smithies family under their Monovale Holdings Ltd. banner, they share in the ownership of Sweet Treat with long-time Rogerson staff member and stable supporter, Denise Howell.

A daughter of Royal Academy mare, Flinders, Sweet Treat is a younger half-sister to the stakes placed Ezra and from an extended family that includes a number of well performed European gallopers including her granddam Eternal Reve who won at Group Three level in Ireland. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - Staphanos Classic LR 1950m

Arawa Park Track: Heavy(10) Time: 2:06.57
1
Sweet Treat
- 6m Ekraar (USA) x Flinders (USA) (Royal Academy (USA))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: J Kam 53
2
0.8
Charlie Horse
- 6g Zacinto (GB) x Black Anna (NZ) (Centaine (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Dougan Rdr: L T Hemi 54.5
3
1.8
Strolling Vagabond
- 7m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Bella Rosalia (GB) (Singspiel (IRE))
Tnr: S B Marsh Rdr: M T Coleman 53
4
2.0
Pacorus
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Za Tiara (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: C J Wood Rdr: D J Danis 56
5
3.5
Cossack Warrior
- 5g Shamoline Warrior (AUS) x Rush'n Red (NZ) (Soviet Star (USA))
Tnr: Ms C Cameron Rdr: D A Mansour 54
6
4.3
My Gift
- 7g Notnowcato (GB) x Red Blossom (GB) (Green Desert (USA))
Tnr: J K Mason Rdr: S M Mc Kay 55
7
4.5
Tweedledee
- 7g Zed (NZ) x Sanstar (NZ) (San Luis (AUS))
Tnr: L O'Sullivan & A Scott Rdr: S C Spratt 53
8
5.8
Verry Flash
- 5g Zed (NZ) x Opulence (NZ) (Danroad (AUS))
Tnr: N P Bishara Rdr: R L Smyth 54.5
9
6.8
Lady Shabeel
- 6m Howbaddouwantit (USA) x No Tolerance (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: I B Kennedy Rdr: A C Goindasamy 53
10
7.0
Obsessive
- 5g Darci Brahma (NZ) x Obsession (NZ) (Bachelor Duke (USA))
Tnr: C M Chipperfield Rdr: R J Myers 53
11
8.5
Tipperary Mary
- 6m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Slievenamon Marie (AUS) (King Of Kings (IRE))
Tnr: J V Wallace Rdr: L H Satherley 53
12
17.3
Deluxe Edition
- 8g Tavistock (NZ) x Arlanda (NZ) (Straight Strike (USA))
Tnr: I L George Rdr: R E Scott 53
More Reading...
Pride’s Outsider Estadio Mestalla Wins Winter Stakes
The lone stakes race on Rosehill’s ten-race card on Saturday saw Joe Pride’s race outsider Estadio Mestalla (Galileo Gold) take out the $200,000 Listed ATC Winter Stakes (1400m) in a boilover.
Sweet Redemption for Stable Favourite Jimmy the Bear
Patrick and Michelle Payne enjoyed a red letter day at Flemington on Saturday with their rising star Buccleuch winning the Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final and then later in the day stable favourite Jimmy the Bear won the Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final (1600m).
Marble Nine Brings Up Second SW For Aquis Sire Kobayashi
The withdrawal of the top weight in Saturday’s $175,000 Listed VRC Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final (1200m) at Flemington saw the field down to just six, with Marble Nine continuing his outstanding recent form to secure his first black type victory.
Kiwi Bred Good Banter Finds Winning Form
Four-year-old mare Good Banter was back in the winner’s circle when narrowly prevailing in the Catanach's Jewellers Handicap (2000m) at Rosehill on Saturday for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Invincible 3YO Wins G3 Winx Guineas
The $300,000 Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday featured a big field of 16 up and comers and following the late scratching of favourite Mister Bianco, Angela Jones took luck out of the equation on I Am Invincible gelding The Three Hundred.
Divine Prophet’s Fortunate Kiss Captures Elusive Black Type Win
With nine top five finishes in previous black type races, it was better late than never as 6yo Divine Prophet mare Fortunate Kiss charged along the inside to win the $300,000 Listed Glasshouse Handicap (1400m) at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday – her first black type victory.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 5
Here is the full list of 112 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Flemington Victory for Tarzino Mare
Quirky but talented mare Miss Tarzy has come from last win the Leilani Series Final (1400m) under a patient Jett Stanley ride.
Snitzel Filly Bridal Waltz Wins A.R. Creswick Stakes
While many felt the winner of Saturday’s Listed $175,000 VRC A.R. Creswick Stakes (1200m) had raced two weeks prior in the Shop Flemington Handicap (1100m) – and they would’ve been correct – but it was not the result many punters felt it would be!
Buccleuch - First Stakes-Winner for Peltzer
The $175,000 Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday was won back in 2020 by Cherry Tortoni, who went to on to become a multiple Group winner of nearly $1million and the same colours were carried by this year’s winner Buccleuch.