Domain Ace will face a daunting task this weekend in the Group 2 Top Kat Roofing Levin Classic (1400m), where he will come up against dominant 3-year-old Savaglee.
“That Savaglee is a very good horse, he has certainly got all the attributes of Savabeel,” said Rogerson, who trained his champion sire.
“But you can’t win if you are not in. We are hoping that he gets back on target for the NZB Kiwi.”
Stablemate and former New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart will also head south to tackle Saturday’s Group 1 Harcourt Thorndon Mile (1600m).
“He looks tremendous,” Rogerson said. “He has been a work in progress but I thought his run the other day [third in the Group 2 Manawatū Challenge Stakes, 1400m] was very good.
“He is well-weighted with 55kg on his back, and I think it is a nice race for him.”
Rogerson’s Trentham team also comprises Ferrando 2-year-old Mission Complete, who will debut in the Listed Star Group Wellesley Stakes (1100m), and Chaource, who will contest the Pullman Hotel Melbourne City Centre 1400.
“[Mission Complete] is a lovely horse in the making,” Rogerson said. “I think he could be a classic 3-year-old, he is a beautiful horse.
“He only had the one trial and I thought we were going down, so what better place to give him some education than Wellington?
“[Chaource] is a half-sister to Mascarpone and she is a very good mare. She was unlucky at Ellerslie. She flew home and ran third.”
Meanwhile, Rogerson will line up Solidify and Black Opal at Tauranga on Friday and will be represented by Elegant Jazz at Ellerslie on Sunday.
“Solidify went a nice race [runner-up] last start,” Rogerson said. “He is getting ready for the Aotearoa Classic [$1 million, 1600m]. He is a good, handy horse. It is a nice race, and he is well in at the weights at 52kg.
“Elegant Jazz is probably just below the top class. That is a very good field, but we will see what happens. Her run was okay last time at Auckland. She got caught wide and everything didn’t go to plan.”
– LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
