Serena Miss in top form for Riccarton
26 Oct 2015
Serena Miss in too form for Riccarton
Graeme and Debbie Rogerson created New Zealand turf history at Riccarton in 2009 and they are keen to turn back the clock with their Goodwood Stud graduate Serena Miss.
The husband and wife team prepared Katie Lee to become the first horse to complete the 2000-1000 Guineas double and they are heading in that direction again.
Serena Miss’ win in today’s Gr.3 Sarten Memorial will now see her take aim at the Gr 1 Sothys NZ 2000 Guineas at Christchurch on November 7.
“It all hinged around today and how she went against the boys and some of the better fillies so we’re 99 per cent certain to go for the colts’ race,” Debbie Rogerson said.
“I was quietly confident and you have to get these fillies to peak at the right time. She’s come back a very good filly and a mile will suit her.”
The winner of last season’s Gr 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes, the strapping Serena Miss sat close to the ace and rounded off strongly in the straight under Leith Innes.
“This is the first time she’s had a draw so I rode her a bit more positively,” successful jockey Leith Innes said.
“It was a good effort and they were going pretty hard up front and she held on well,” Innes said.
The daughter of Iffraaj and the More Than Ready mare Gifted Lass was bought by the Rogersons out of Goodwood’s 2014 Premier Sale line-up last year for $85,000.
She is a half-sister to the Listed VRC St Leger placegetter Gifted Lad.