Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall have plenty to look forward to with Social Climber (NZ) (Contributer) after the promising filly debuted in winning fashion at Arawa Park on Wednesday.
Social Climber made a decent impression at the trials four weeks ago and was set to make her first raceday appearance last Saturday before that was briefly delayed with the Rotorua meeting moved to Thursday.
One of four juveniles on debut in the Entain – NZB Insurance Pearl Series Race (1230m), Social Climber was assertive early under Jasmine Fawcett from the wide barrier and settled outside the leader in Serendipitous.
Cruising into the straight, the filly got on even terms with the pacemaker and soon kicked away, putting a three-length margin on the remainder of the field headed by race-favourite Suit Yourself, who had no favours in the running and closed gamely into second.
“She was very impressive, she can gallop,” Richardson said.
“Jasmine had galloped her and she was pretty confident, even though it was a small field with a lot of unraced horses, so I was undecided as I didn’t know the rest of the form.”
With an abundance of options coming up for a rising three-year-old filly, Richardson is keeping an open mind as to where Social Climber will be seen next.
“She seems to have pulled up well, but we’ll have to wait and see over the next few weeks,” he said.
“There’s some nice three-year-old races around, such as the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1200m) and Gold Trail Stakes (Gr.3, 1200m) so we’ll see what’s around at the time.
“She’s going to be better with the cut in the ground, so she’s going to be a nice horse next autumn as a three-year-old.”
A daughter of Contributer, Social Climber was purchased for $10,000 out of Archer Park’s draft at the 2023 Karaka Yearling Sales by Richardson, who races the filly alongside the Social Racing Premier Social Climbers Syndicate.
“She was a very athletic filly as a yearling, but I didn’t want to put too much pressure on her as an early two-year-old,” he said.
The victory also brought up a significant milestone for the Matamata horseman, being his 800th domestic winner alongside 48 successes in Australia. Of his Kiwi haul, 55 have been Group or Listed winners, including the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m) with Bonny Lass and the Gr.3 Easter Handicap (1600m) with Snazzytavi this term.
“I’m pretty chuffed about that too, I’ve been very fortunate with some good horses,” Richardson said.
“There have been lots of highs, Defibrillate winning a Group One was a big thrill for me because I had my close mates in the horse, and I bred him with the McInteers.”
Since going into partnership with Rogan Norvall in August of 2020, the pair have accumulated 69 winners and 11 at stakes level.
