Scarlett Lady Simply The Best

7 February 2012

Graeme Rogerson paid Savabeel’s outstanding daughter Scarlett Lady the ultimate accolade on her triumphant return to racing at Tauherenikau yesterday. The crack mare came back from an injury-forced break to claim the Listed Wairarapa Breeders’ Stakes with authority.

“She’s probably the best horse I’ve ever been associated with,” said Rogerson, who trains the four-year-old with wife Debbie. “She’s a great filly and she’s had a decent blow so she’ll run now in the Air New Zealand Stakes and go to Australia and have a look at the International in Singapore.”

Winner of the Gr 1 Queensland Oaks last year, Scarlett Lady had been off the scene since she underwent surgery to remove a bone chip in the spring. “She had a couple of months off after the operation and come back and her works’ been enormous,” Rogerson said.

Scarlett Lady was ridden back in the field today by James McDonald before he improved 800 metres from home. She circled runners quickly and held a strong finishing run to account for Outback Girl (O’Reilly). “In her second trial she was just awesome and she’s done the same today,” McDonald said. “Hopefully everyone can see the best of her now in Australia.”

Tivaci’s Movie Night steals the show at Newcastle

A sister to the Gr.1 ATC Flight Stakes (1600m) winner Never Been Kissed, the Waikato Stud-bred and raced Movie Night (NZ) was rewarded for her consistency, breaking her maiden with an all-the-way win over 1400m at Newcastle for trainer Tom Charlton.

9 July 2026

Oilman’s stud stake could change course of NZ breeding

Eighteen months ago, Texas oilman Nelson Bunker Hunt walked through the lush Waikato pasture of Matamata’s Balcarres Stud and announced he wanted some just like it for his own.

Today he has-360 acres about a mile down the road which has been transformed from a dairy farm to one of New Zealand’s leading horse and cattle breeding establishments.