Gift Of Power primed

A sizzling trial from her favourite horse Gift Of Power has Hamilton trainer Bailey Rogerson buzzing ahead of Saturday’s The Oaks Stud/Hong Kong Jockey Club Trophy Premier (1200m) at Awapuni.

The Power filly was never out of second gear, but still recorded a slick 59.44 seconds in winning her 1000m open catchweight heat at Taupo by two and a-half lengths.

Race rival Haussman had won a trial only minutes earlier in 62.1 seconds over the same journey.

"That should have topped her off nicely after her little freshen up," said Rogerson, part of a threeway training partnership with her grandfather Graeme Rogerson and his wife Debbie.

"It was an excellent trial because she likes the cut out of the track a bit more than she got it at Taupo. She’s come through it really well too.’’

A winner of eight of her 12 starts up to Group Two level, Gift Of Power was unable to make it five straight wins when she could only manage third to Melody Belle and Astor in January’s Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) at Ellerslie.

Rogerson said that race proved Gift Of Power was not as effective right-handed as she was going the Awapuni left-handed direction of racing.

"Right-handed she is a query and, if we can, we’ll try and avoid it in the future."

TAB bookmakers opened Gift Of Power as a $2.60 favourite in the three-year-old sprint ahead of impressive last-start Hawera winner Boss at $3.30 and Rogerson was saying nothing to turn punters off the glamour filly. "We expect a big run. We are as happy as we have been with her," she said.

● Meanwhile connections of Yearn have decided against carrying on with the talented mare and she will be spelled after she steps out at Awapuni on Saturday.

Consideration had been given to a tilt at the Gr.1 New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes

(1600m), but those plans have now been shelved.

‘‘We just think she’s not really ready for a mile, she needs the pace on otherwise she doesn’t settle,’’ owner Mark Lupton said.

‘‘Anyway, she’s done more than enough this preparation – she’s won five races so we’ll be waiting for the spring with her.’’