Rogerson’s first ride at Otago

Bailey Rogerson launches her riding career on Christchurch galloper Coffee at Wingatui on Thursday.

The granddaughter of Hamilton trainer Graeme Rogerson turned 15 on Monday, the minimum age to ride in races. Her mother, Michelle Northcott, said Bailey’s amateur rider’s licence would be approved by New Zealand Thoroughbred Racing by Tuesday.

Northcott will ride against her daughter in the 1600m amateur riders’ race at Wingatui. She has secured the mount on Babilloni.

The Hamilton mother and daughter are also riding in amateur races at Hastings (Saturday) and Te Aroha (Sunday).

‘‘She’s very excited, she can’t wait to ride [at Wingatui],’’ Northcott said of Bailey. ‘‘She’s not worried about her birthday.’’

Northcott has gained a win and a second in North Island amateur rider races this month.

Rogerson’s Wingatui ride, Coffee, is a capable performer in Michael and Matthew Pitman’s Riccarton stable. Coffee’s last eight starts have produced a win, three thirds, two fourths and a fifth. He was third in a rating 65 1200m at Timaru on June 17 at his last start.

Plans to start High Forty in Saturday’s Hawke’s Bay Steeplechase have been ditched in favour of him campaigning at the National meeting at Riccarton in August. Wingatui trainers Brian and Shane Anderton will race High Forty over hurdles on their home track on Thursday.

The three steeplechases High Forty is earmarked for are the Koral (August 6) and Grand National (August 13) at Riccarton and the Great Northern (September 3) at Ellerslie.

Shane Anderton said another of their jumpers, Gold Leaf, might get his steeplechase ticket soon. Gold Leaf is a prospect for the Grand National Hurdles after showing promise in four starts over fences. He has picked up a win (Wingatui) and a second (Timaru) in restricted open hurdle races.