No Disguising Costume’s class

A dream day at Te Rapa for WS was crowned by their rising star Costume, who significantly added to her future broodmare value with victory in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes. The home-bred daughter of Savabeel made light of a substantial weight rise and the step up to 2000 metres to justify the faith of co-trainer Debbie Rogerson.

“I said to Garry (Chittick) I thought we could win the Thorndon and then run at Te Rapa – I’ve got so much confidence in her,” she said. “She’s a very, very good horse and to get a Group One is great. She’s by Savabeel, who we trained, so it’s all pretty emotional.”

Costume, who all but delivered in the Thorndon with her brave effort for second, came from the back of the field at Te Rapa to win by the slenderest of margins. “I was hoping she’d got there and she got the stride in at the right time,” Rogerson said.

Sharing in the Group One glory was rider Michael Coleman, who posted his 32nd success at the elite level aboard Costume. “Shuka drew level at the 100 and she really dug deep,” he said. “She’s a tough mare who has come a long way in a short time – she’s just kept on improving all the way through. This won’t be her last Group One.”

Out of the O’Reilly mare Disguised, Costume’s win provided the Rogersons with two reasons to celebrate. During the recent sales series at Karaka they purchased her half-sister by Pins for $60,000 out of WS’s Premier Sale draft.