Caulfield Cup hope Costume on target

Group One winner Costume (NZ) (Savabeel) has pleased co-trainer Debbie Rogerson in the lead-up to this month’s Gr. 1 Windsor Park Plate (1600m) at Hastings, for which her Herbie Dyke Stakes-winning jockey Michael Coleman has been engaged.

The Garry Chittick-bred and raced Savabeel mare finished 13th of 14 runners in last month’s Gr. 3 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa but Rogerson, who trains in partnership with her husband Graeme, was far from disappointed.

“She was ridden a bit upside down to use the barrier and she raced a bit fiercely but she’s pulled up well and come through it well,” Rogerson said.

“I’m happy with her. The 1200m of the Foxbridge was a bit short for her and that’s why we missed the first one [Makfi Challenge Stakes] at Hastings but she’ll be there for the second leg. The further the better for her.”

With that in mind, the Rogersons this week entered Costume for the A$6 million Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington in November. She was already entered for next month’s A$3 million Caulfield Cup (2400m), a race which has always been touted as her campaign target and in which she has been allotted 50kgs.

The Rogersons will also target the Windsor Park Plate with Soriano, who produced another pleasing performance in the Makfi Stakes, running home strongly for seventh.

The stable will have runners out in force this weekend, with Grand National Hurdles runner-up Zenocoin (NZ) (Zenno Rob Roy) chasing big-race success in the $100,000 Schweppes Great Northern Hurdle (4190m) at Ellerslie.

Listed $50,000 HS Dyke Wanganui Guineas hopeful Scusa (NZ) (No Excuse Needed) heads a strong stable entry at Wanganui, where Cosmic Cube (NZ) (Dehere), Goodn’targ (NZ) (Savabeel) and Sanasar (NZ) (Savabeel) will join promising two-year-olds Serena Miss (NZ) (Iffraaj) and Wawrinka (NZ) (Swiss Ace).

Iffraaj filly Serena Miss couldn’t have been much more impressive winning a Te Teko trial last month, while Swiss Ace colt Wawrinka dead-heated in a trial at the same venue last week.

“Wawrinka trialled well. He was a bit green but he’ll be better with that experience,” Rogerson said.

“We’re really happy with the Iffraaj filly. Her trial was super and she’d a jumpout since then and she’s doing everything nicely.” – NZ Racing Desk.