Debut Winner Maritimo to Target Listed Wellesley Stakes Next

15 September 2014

Past knowledge of Maritimo’s family convinced Debbie Rogerson the youngster was worth chasing at Karaka last year and all concerned gained an early return on their investment at Ruakaka.

A $200,000 yearling purchase, the daughter of Pins followed up her encouraging trial form with a dominant win in Saturday’s Cowley’s Party Hire 880m.

“She’s beautifully-bred and we had to pay a bit of money for her,” said Debbie Rogerson, who prepares Maritimo with husband Graeme.

“She’s a lovely filly and very strong – she looks like a colt.

“Her next race will be at Wellington in the Listed Wellesley Stakes on the 25th of October.”

Further down the line, the Karaka Million has also been earmarked for the Gavin Wealleans, Graeme Rogerson, Jimmy Brown, Paul Favretto, Toddy Bawden, Robyn Ratcliffe and Scott Plant-raced 2YO.

Maritimo is out of the O’Reilly mare Miracle Miss, a five-time winner and Group One placed, who is a sister to another former quality racemare in Dating.

“I had a lot of success with Dating and loved her,” Rogerson said. “I really liked this filly at the sales and she’s got a lot going for her.”

Dating won the Desert Gold Stakes and the Taranaki Breeders’ Stakes at Group Three level and she also finished third in the Gr.1 Captain Cook Stakes.

A Waikato Stud graduate like Dating, Maritimo came with a well-timed finish for rider Danielle Johnson to score at the first time of asking and in the process she overcame a hefty knock in the closing 200 metres from runner-up Showboy.

“She got a bump and she did a good job to pick herself up and won with authority,” Rogerson said.

“Her first trial was on a slow track, which tripped her up and she won her next one and went ahead in leaps and bounds after that.

Source: NZ Racing Desk & Waikato Stud

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Many years ago, Mary and I attended the Annual Time Form dinner, staged the night before the races at York. It was an unusual format with spouses separated, not a bad idea so long as you were compatible with your mixed table.