Racing: Graeme Rogerson confident festive season will extend to Boxing Day races at Ellerslie

Beauden is the favourite for the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic. Photo / Race Images

It was all hands on deck in the Rogerson household this Christmas as the in-form stable prepares for the Boxing Day races at Ellerslie where they will saddle eight runners, including Group 1 Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (2000m) favourite Beauden.

While for most, Christmas means a day of rest and time spent with family, the Rogerson family did plenty of the latter but without the rest.

"I give a number of the staff Christmas Day off, which means we did a bit more work ourselves, but we are lucky the whole family loves horses," Graeme Rogerson said.

The veteran horseman, who trains in partnership with wife Debbie and granddaughter Bailey, said they were up and at it from the early hours of the morning as per usual before the festivities begin.

"Bailey and Michelle [Northcott, Bailey's mother] plus my son and the grandkids all got involved and of course Debbie works as hard as anyone I know and was out there from 3.30am."

For racing enthusiasts, Christmas lasts two days, with Ellerslie on Boxing Day one of the highlights of the year, and Rogerson believes his team of runners will make their mark on the big day.

Five-year-old gelding Beauden has been the beneficiary of a patient approach and has been installed a $4.80 favourite in the feature of the day following his stunning last start victory at Awapuni, where he trounced his rivals despite knuckling at the start and nearly losing the rider.

"He is a horse that just keeps getting better and better," Rogerson said. "Joan Egan is a great owner. She has just waited and waited and the horse has come first. I think he is a staying horse and his work [on Tuesday] was as good as he has ever worked.

"He is a beautiful natured horse and you can ride him anywhere. From barrier 10, I imagine how he jumps will dictate how Ryan [Elliot, jockey] rides him. He has come a long way in a short time from a restricted class horse to a Group 1 weight-for-age favourite. While it is a big jump in class, I think he is up to it."

Rogerson will also have Contessa Vanessa in the Zabeel Classic, with his former apprentice Rory Hutchings home from Sydney for a few days.

"Rory rode her in work [on Tuesday] and he is going back to Sydney on Sunday ahead of the New Year's Day races, but he will ride four or five for us at Rotorua on Friday as Ryan is going to ride at the New Plymouth meeting on the same day.

"I was disappointed with Contessa Vanessa the other day at Te Rapa [when 11th in the Group 2 Cal Isuzu Stakes over 1600m]. She over-raced and did a lot wrong, but on her day, she is a bloody good mare and she looks the part."

Quality three-year-old Aalaalune will represent the stable in the Group 2 SkyCity Eight Carat Classic (1600m) and Rogerson said a line can be ruled through her last start fourth, where a substantial delay at the start saw the filly get quite worked up.

"Ryan thought she ran her race before they jumped but she has trained on well since. I think she is crying out for a middle distance and she will more than likely back up on New Year's Day in the Royal Stakes [Group 2, 2000m]."

Four-year-old entire Mr Universe is another in supreme form of late and he will tackle a strong Listed field in the Hallmark Stud Handicap (1200m), where the winner is exempt from the ballot in the Group 1 Sistema Railway (1200m) on New Year's Day.

- NZ Racing Desk