After suffering the disappointment of having their pair of two-year-olds narrowly beaten at Group Two level earlier in the day, the Graeme and Debbie Rogerson team gained a measure of consolation when promising galloper Sanasar clung on in a desperate finish to register a victory at Trentham on Saturday.
The Rogerson two-year-old juggernaut has swept all before it this season but they had to bow to the determination of Showcasing youngster Showboy in the Gr. 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes with Serena Miss and Jacquetta filling the minor placings for the stable.
However it was back to the business of winning, albeit narrowly, a few races later as rider Opie Bosson took luck out of the equation to land Sanasar an all the way winner in a desperate finish to the rating 75 1600 metre event.
“He deserved that as he had absolutely no luck at Riccarton last time,” noted Graeme Rogerson after the race.
“I think he has the makings of being a very good horse but he is still immature and needs to learn a bit more about the racing game before you see the best of him.
“We didn’t really want to lead but the circumstances dictated that with the way he jumped out and I did say I didn’t want him on the fence behind horses as that’s what got him beaten at his last start.
“Opie said he still over-raced a fair bit but although the margin was only a head he said he took off again at the post when they challenged him.”
Rogerson is in two minds as to what the next step will be for the four-year-old as he contemplates stepping him over more ground later in this campaign.
“I think he will develop into a good middle distance horse but I might just give him one more over a mile before we put him over any further,” he said.
“We’ve got him nominated for some of those good distance races including the Auckland Cup but it might just be too soon for him as I think he will be at his best with another 12 months on him.”
Rogerson was more direct about the future for Serena Miss after her runner-up finish.
“Danielle (Johnson) said she was a tragedy beaten but you have to give credit to the rider on the winner as he kept her in the pocket,” he said.
“She will go the paddock now and we will bring her back for the Matamata Breeders Stakes in February.
“After that we’ll look at the two Group One races but I think she is a filly who is going to get over ground and she will only keep getting better.” – NZ Racing Desk
Photo by: Trish Dunnell Photography
