He may have cut back his Australian racing interests but trainer Graeme Rogerson is set to make a big impact on the Brisbane winter carnival.
The effervescent Rogerson now spends much of his time in New Zealand where he has a large harness racing team and trains thoroughbreds in partnership with his wife Debbie.
He maintains a stable in Sydney with Roger Elliott looking after the team including Queensland Derby favourite Shootoff, fourth in Saturday’s Doomben Cup.
But it was the performance of Scarlett Lady that grabbed most of the headlines after she came with a late run to win the Doomben Roses and cement favouritism for the Queensland Oaks.
Scarlett Lady came to Australia last week along accompanied by two-year-old Dowager Queen and another Derby hopeful Endor with Debbie Rogerson overseeing the team.
“I will probably come over for the Oaks and the Derby but I had to be at Te Rapa on Saturday and the trots today,” Rogerson said.
“I watched the races and was very happy with what I saw.
“Scarlett Lady is a pretty good horse. She is unbeaten this time in and has beaten the older mares twice.
“I’m also thrilled because Max Whitby is one of her owners and it’s great for him.”
A member of the board of the newly formed Australian Turf Club and a long-time Rogerson client, Whitby was also a part-owner of 2004 Cox Plate winner Savabeel, the sire of Scarlett Lady.
The filly firmed to $3.50 for the Oaks (2400m) on June 4 and was also elevated to $6.50 second favouritism for the Derby the following week with her stablemate at $4.80 with TAB Sportsbet.
“We’ll see what happens, I don’t know if she will run in the Derby,” Rogerson said.
“We also Endor who I think has the makings of a good staying horse.
“But he has to get in. He is entered for the Grand Prix on Saturday and also the open handicap in case he doesn’t make the field for the three-year-old race.
“Dowager Queen won’t run until the Sires’ Produce and then hopefully goes to the TJ Smith a week later on Derby day.
“Shootoff is going back to Sydney to his own environment and won’t race again before the Derby.
“I don’t think he would have lost any admirers after the Doombe Cup.”
Dowager Queen won a Listed fillies and mares race on May 7 carrying 46 kilograms on a heavy track to take her record to three wins from nine starts.
Endor has one victory from 10 starts but has been placed at Group Three level this campaign.
He was a $35 chance for the Derby on Sunday.
AAP TURF
