Friday’s Muswellbrook meeting marks an important stepping stone towards the Scone and Brisbane winter carnivals for the Paul Messara-trained Rogano and Pyrography.
The promising, well-bred pair tackle the Bellerive Stud Sprint Open Handicap (1000m).
“Ideally I would have preferred to split them up but it looks the right lead-up race for both horses heading into Scone,” Messara said.
“I’m very happy with both of them. They’re hard to split on the track.
“Rogano has come back well after a hind leg problem and Pyrography is a very fast horse over short trips when resuming.
“Maybe, because Rogano is a year older and gets a bit of allowance on weights, he’d be the pick but there’s nothing between them.
“I expect them to both race well.”
Rogano, a four-year-old entire by Redoute’s Choice, will carry 54.5kg while three-year-old Danzero filly Pyrography has 54kg.
Messara describes both horses as very promising.
Rogano, the winner of three from five starts, is being aimed at the $100,000 Scone Quality (1100m) on May 13 and Pyrography the $130,000 Coolmore 3YO Handicap (1100m) the following day before heading to Brisbane.
Rogano, beaten 2-1/2 lengths when fifth to Neeson in the Listed Darby Munro at Rosehill at only his third start, was spelled after finishing fourth to Jest Crewsin’ at Canterbury on April 21 last year.
“He had a complicated hind leg injury and we needed to give him time out,” Messara said.
“The horse is fine now, much fitter for his first-up run.”
Rogano resumed after 51 weeks when dead-heating with Delabombell in a 1000m Benchmark 75 event at Hawkesbury on April 14.
Pyrography hasn’t started since finishing unplaced to Adebisi in the Listed Gold Edition Plate (1200m) at Doomben on December 18.
The filly scored at Newcastle and Rosehill previously and was runner-up to Okane in a 900m trial at Scone on March 23.
“She was unlucky last preparation. We took her to Brisbane chasing some black-type races and the meetings were rained out three weeks in a row,” Messara said.
“She’s a nice horse, very fast. Just a lovely little horse.
“I was happy with her trial. She’s trained on good.”
AAP TURF
