The $3.5 million NZB Kiwi (1500m) is fast approaching, and the Canterbury Jockey Club’s contender Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) will ready for the rich feature with a 1400m hit-out at Tauranga on Friday.
The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained gelding secured his berth in the NZB Kiwi when placing behind Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Gr.1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November but failed to flatter when beating just the one runner home in the Gr.2 Auckland Guineas (1400m) at Ellerslie a month later.
He quelled some concerns with his fourth placed performance behind Savaglee in the Gr.2 Levin Classic (1400m) at Trentham last month, but his trainers would like to see a vast improvement from their charge on Friday.
“He has been going well, I would just like him to peak a bit more,” Graeme Rogerson said.
“He did a lot of work chasing Savaglee (in the Levin Classic) and it probably told late, but he went a good race.
“He has got a big weight (on Friday) with 60 kilos but there are only five in it and I think he is up to them. I think he will run well.”
Depending on Friday’s outcome, Rogerson said Domain Ace may have one more run prior to the NZB Kiwi on Champions Day at Ellerslie, on March 8, for which he is rated a $31 winning chance in the TAB’s futures market.
Meanwhile, Team Rogerson will take three stakes contenders to Te Rapa on Saturday, headlined by their multiple Group One winner Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood).
The son of Redwood is set to tackle the $700,000 Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m), a race he won as a three-year-old, and his trainers are hoping history can repeat this weekend.
The five-year-old gelding finished 13th in the Gr.1 Thorndon Mile (1600m) last month, following a placing in the Gr.2 Manawatu Challenge Stakes (1400m), and Rogerson is hoping for a better showing on Saturday.
“He had no luck and missed the start at Wellington. Hopefully he is back, he goes well at Te Rapa,” he said.
Group One targets await Sharp ‘N’ Smart following Saturday, but Rogerson has yet to decide which side of the Tasman they will be.
“He will probably go to the Bonecrusher (Gr.1, 2000m) or head to Australia for some weight-for-age races, but we will just play it by ear,” he said.
Rogerson will also be chasing black-type with Ferrando three-year-olds Timbuctoo (NZ) (Ferrando) and Skymax (NZ) (Ferrando), who will be contesting the Gr.2 Legacy Lodge Waikato Guineas (2000m) and Gr.2 David and Karyn Ellis Classic (2000m) respectively.
“He (Timbuctoo) is a young horse with a lot of talent,” Rogerson said. “He has improved all the time and I think he will stay. He is going to head to the Derby (Gr.1, 2400m) and it is a nice lead-up race.
“She (Skymax) is a very honest filly. She is going good races and we are hoping she can win one of them.”
