Scarlett Lady Impresses

16 August 2011

James McDonald was gleaming as he guided Melbourne-bound mare Scarlett Lady (NZ) (Savabeel) around Te Rapa racecourse on Saturday.

The now four-year-old completed her first public outing since winning the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks (2400m) in June in a relaxed fashion, recording 1:3.49 for the last 1000 meters, 50.01 for the 800m and 35.87 for the final 600m.

Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson was also smiling as the mare he has labelled ‘The best horse in New Zealand’ returned to the stabling area.

“She had two and a half weeks out after the Oaks and has been getting ready since as she is going to Hastings on the 27th for the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes,” said Rogerson

“She had a nice workout with Gaston today she ran a fast time on a very heavy track, they ran 35 and change home and I let her work on a little bit after the winning post.”

“I’m very happy; James said she is a lot stronger this time in.”

A stronger Scarlett Lady (NZ) is threatening proposition for her competitors in the Gr.1 Makfi Challenge Stakes run over 1400 metres.

“It’s going to be hard for her over 1400m but she has got a lot of class she will give Jimmy Choux a bit at the finish I think,” assured Rogerson.

“She will only have the one start in New Zealand before she heads to Australia she races there on the 17th of September.”

She will kick off her Australian spring campaign in the Gr.1 Underwood stakes over 1800 metres at Caulfield, with the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups her main targets.

The Rogerson Stable has a strong team heading into the spring with Dowager Queen (NZ) (Savabeel) following a similar plan.

“Dowager Queen is super She’ll have one run here before heading to Australia to run in the Fillies Group One in Sydney over a mile (Flight Stakes), followed by the Thousand Guineas, the Cox Plate and the VRC Oaks, said Rogerson.

Source: NZTM

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