Rogerson has high hopes for juvenile

One of the top juveniles from the past season is back in work and is making steady progress towards the start of a busy three-year-old campaign.

The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson trained Gift Of Power caught the eye early in the 2016/17 season when she strung together a hattrick of wins that included the Gr. 2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes at Trentham in December.

In two subsequent starts the filly from the first crop of Cambridge Stud stallion Power finished runner-up to Hasahalo in Group Three company at Ellerslie before finishing unplaced in the rich Karaka Million in January.

Put aside for a decent break, the rising three-year-old has been back in work for some time now and is pleasing co-trainer Graeme Rogerson with her progress to date.

“She has really furnished into a super looking individual and strengthened up nicely during her time in the paddock,” he reported.

“She’s been back in work a wee while now and has done everything right so far. She’s probably just about ready for her first serious gallop in the next week or so and we will then start to make our plans from there.

“We’ve got the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton as one of her main aims for the early summer with the Gold Trail Stakes at the Hastings spring carnival earmarked as an early assignment.”

Meanwhile Rogerson and wife Debbie are reassessing the immediate plans for promising filly Malambo who ran a courageous second at Te Rapa on the weekend.

“She went a very good race as she slipped at the start and that probably cost her the win,” he said.

“She had a bad draw and when she missed away a little it meant she couldn’t get handy in the early rush like we wanted. She dug in like a good horse in the run home so we weren’t disappointed with her.

“We had planned to take her to the Ryder Stakes but we’re having another think about that as I don’t think she really likes the heavy tracks. Nuclear Fusion will definitely be going to the race but we might just wait for something better with this filly.”

Cambridge trained three-year-old Alvins Dream launched his racing career in style with an eye-catching performance on debut at Te Rapa on the weekend.

The Iffraaj gelding had received a pass mark from his three trial outings leading in to Saturday’s 1200 metre contest but took the step up to raceday company with aplomb as he dashed away from his rivals in the closing stages to record a comfortable one and three-quarter length victory.

Rider Troy Harris was suitably impressed as he returned to scale on the Mark Forbes prepared galloper.

“He did a lot wrong as I was on the wrong leg turning for home but he picked them up just like that,” he enthused.

“He drew four so I got the run of the race although we probably got to the front a little too soon. He’s a pretty promising horse.”

Forbes was also pleased with the effort that saw his faith in the threeyear-old justified despite the indifferent trial performances.

“I’ve always had a good opinion of him although I couldn’t get him to win a trial as he was for sale,” he said.

“I did think he might need the run however on that performance he should get up to a mile as he’s bred to go further.

“We have been waiting for better tracks even though the rain hasn’t stopped lately. Today was the perfect opportunity for him and he drew a good gate as well.

“He’s still got a lot to learn should take a lot out of the run.”

Alvins Dream is raced by a syndicate that includes Forbes grandparents along with his younger brother Alex. but