Ichiban
Trish Dunell
Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson believes Ichiban should be sporting a perfect record.
"With any luck he would be unbeaten – he just raced greenly at his first start and he's developed into a lovely horse now," he said.
Ichiban ran third behind the highly-regarded Ugo Foscolo at his first appearance last season before he won at Te Rapa and was then put aside after claiming the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie.
The Swiss Ace gelding recently finished runner-up in a trial in the hands of Rogerson's grand-daughter Bailey to ready him for his resuming run in Friday's Goldsmith's Gallery 1200 at Te Rapa on Friday.
"He trialled really well and young Bailey didn't do much on him," said Rogerson, who trains the three-year-old with his wife Debbie. "He's on track and heading toward Christchurch."
Safely through Te Rapa, Ichiban is likely to make two more appearances before the Gr.1 Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 5.
"He'll probably run at Rotorua and then the Sarten Memorial," Rogerson said.
The stable will also be represented by Savasava in Friday's three-year-old event.
The Savabeel colt won one of his six starts as a two-year-old and he has had three trials since last racing at Trentham in the autumn.
"He's a staying horse who really needs a dry track," Rogerson said. "He's more of a Derby horse and we'll play it by ear and see how he does as to whether he goes down south as well." – NZ Racing Desk.
"With any luck he would be unbeaten – he just raced greenly at his first start and he's developed into a lovely horse now," he said.
Ichiban ran third behind the highly-regarded Ugo Foscolo at his first appearance last season before he won at Te Rapa and was then put aside after claiming the Listed Great Northern Foal Stakes at Ellerslie.
The Swiss Ace gelding recently finished runner-up in a trial in the hands of Rogerson's grand-daughter Bailey to ready him for his resuming run in Friday's Goldsmith's Gallery 1200 at Te Rapa on Friday.
"He trialled really well and young Bailey didn't do much on him," said Rogerson, who trains the three-year-old with his wife Debbie. "He's on track and heading toward Christchurch."
Safely through Te Rapa, Ichiban is likely to make two more appearances before the Gr.1 Sothys New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 5.
"He'll probably run at Rotorua and then the Sarten Memorial," Rogerson said.
The stable will also be represented by Savasava in Friday's three-year-old event.
The Savabeel colt won one of his six starts as a two-year-old and he has had three trials since last racing at Trentham in the autumn.
"He's a staying horse who really needs a dry track," Rogerson said. "He's more of a Derby horse and we'll play it by ear and see how he does as to whether he goes down south as well." – NZ Racing Desk.