Soriano faces her best opponent this season when she takes on Rising Romance in the quest for a third Group One victory for the season, but trainer Graeme Rogerson is glad she’s there.
Soriano has been one of the stars of the New Zealand season, winning two weight-for-age Group Ones over 2000m, and is looking for another in the New Zealand Stakes at Ellerslie on Saturday.
Rogerson, who trains Soriano in partnership with his wife Debbie, wants to take her across the Tasman, where she is untested, for the Queen Elizabeth Stakes on April 11.
That’s where it’s helpful that her opponents include Rising Romance, winner of the Australian Oaks and second in the Caulfield Cup last year.
“Our plan is to take her to Sydney and then to Hong Kong,” Rogerson said.
“Rising Romance is a really good mare and how we go against her will give us a really good guide on how she might go in Australia.”
Rising Romance is the $1.70 favourite with the NZ TAB and will also be the sentimental favourite following the death this week of her co-trainer Dean Logan.
The training partner and former husband of Donna Logan lost his long battle with throat cancer on Thursday.
The Rogersons have Serena Miss and Magic Dancer in the day’s other Group One race, the Diamond Stakes (1200m) for two-year-olds.
Serena Miss, the Matamata Breeders Stakes winner, is the best-rated in the market at $5.
“She’s 17 hands so it’s amazing she’s running like this as a two-year-old,” Rogerson said.
“She’s got a tough draw but she should be able to get a good run.”
Their other runner, Magic Dancer, is a $14 chance after winning at New Plymouth at her last start.
