First Group I Winner for Shooting to Win

Media Release - Saturday February 26

Consistent performer Mascarpone capped a frustrating run of five consecutive placings to claim his first victory at the highest level when he took out the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki bringing a big pedigree update for his half-sister to be offered at Karaka Book 1.

Mascarpone has his rivals covered as he heads to victory in the Gr.1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic (1600m) at Otaki Photo Credit: Race Images - Peter Rubery

The Team Rogerson-trained five-year-old son of Shooting To Win is more commonly known as a high-class sprinting commodity having claimed minor placings in races such as the Gr.1 Telegraph (1200m) and twice in the Gr.1 BCD Group Sprint (1400m).

Stepping up to the 1600m journey for the first time since finishing unplaced behind the recently retired champion mare Probabeel in the 2020 Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m), there were many pundits who doubted his ability to stretch to a mile.

Mascarpone found the lead without too much pressure and was beautifully rated by apprentice rider Wiremu Pinn before angling centre track when rounding the home bend in search of better ground.

Chased hard by the Jamie Richards-trained pair of Amarelinha and Brando, Mascarpone found a strong kick in the concluding stages to draw clear and register his eighth career victory at start 26 and take his prize money earnings in excess of $437,000.

Advertisement

Co-trainer Debbie Rogerson admitted that the Otaki race had been a major target for the horse this season, especially after his gallant run for third behind Levante and Entriviere in the BCD Group Sprint at his last start.

“He had been over the mile as a three-year-old, but he just wasn’t strong enough to cope with it back then,” she said.

“He has strengthened up over the last two seasons and this year we always thought we would like to get him back to the mile at some stage.

“When he went so well at Te Rapa last time, Graeme (Rogerson) said this was the race to win so we set our sights on it and that has paid off.

“He was the true weight-for-age performer in the race and Wiremu rode him extremely well and we got the victory.”

There are no immediate plans for the next stage of Mascarpone’s current campaign, although a dislike of racing right-handed will dictate just where the horse is placed.

“He swings a leg pretty badly, which means he isn’t well suited to going the right-handed way around,” Rogerson said.

“We’ll just take him home now and see how he recovers from this before deciding what we tackle next.

“I think the way he has improved and matured then we could be looking at races over 2000m in the future.

“He loves racing at Te Rapa so you could see him in a race like the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m) this time next year.”

Pinn was calm and collected when discussing the tactics employed aboard his mount that provided him with his first success at Group One level.

“He has won pretty easily and just towed me everywhere,” Pinn said.

“I actually didn’t think he would get the mile today as I thought he was just a 1200m-1400m horse, but he has proved me wrong.

“It was by design we went wide as I’ve been riding all day and looking at the pattern and I thought the inside was off and a lot of winners were coming wider out.

“I spoke with Debbie (Rogerson) and she told made to try and save ground around the corner and then bring him out and it paid off.

“It took me a while to pull him up as well so maybe he might want even a little bit further.”

Bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, Mascarpone is out of the Flying Spur mare Fromage and was a $160,000 purchase by Team Rogerson during the Book 1 Sale at Karaka in 2018.

The half-sister to Marscarpone will be offered at Karaka.

Westbury will offer a half-sister to Mascarpone by Reliable Man as Lot 261 during this year’s Book 1 Sale which commences at Karaka on Monday, March 7. – NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment

Race Result - El Cheapo Cars Wfa Classic Gr1 1600m

Otaki Track: Dead(4) Time: 1:34.61
1
Mascarpone
- 5g Shooting To Win (AUS) x Fromage (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Team Rogerson Rdr: W F Pinn 59
2
2.0
Amarelinha
- 4m Savabeel (AUS) x Hopscotch (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: J Parkes 57
3
2.2
Brando
- 4g Savabeel (AUS) x Saoirse (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: K Asano 59
4
5.0
Hasabro
- 6g Savabeel (AUS) x Halloween (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Andrew Carston Rdr: J R Lowry 59
5
5.1
House Of Cartier
- 6m Alamosa (NZ) x Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: Peter Didham Rdr: S J Macnab 57
6
5.6
Germanicus
- 6g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) x St Germaine (NZ) (Keeper (AUS))
Tnr: Ms D Guy Rdr: K R Hercock 59
7
5.7
Sinarahma
- 7m Darci Brahma (NZ) x Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar (USA))
Tnr: S A Sharrock Rdr: R H Schofer 57
8
5.8
Vigor Winner
- 6g Declaration Of War (USA) x Savont (AUS) (Exceed And Excel (AUS))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: D L Turner 59
9
7.3
Packing Rockstar
- 6g Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Anabandana (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: Ms L Brennan Rdr: J K Riddell 59
10
8.6
Shadows Cast
- 9g Per Incanto (USA) x Ages Past (NZ) (Slavic (USA))
Tnr: M K Oulaghan Rdr: A Comignaghi 59
11
9.4
Markus Aurelius
- 5g Ghibellines (AUS) x Evancho (AUS) (Shinzig (AUS))
Tnr: J W Richards Rdr: L J Allpress 59
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 20
Here is the full list of 39 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Ka Ying Rising connection draws Hayes team to Shamexpress at Karaka
With one of the world’s most exciting sprinters flying the flag for David Hayes in Hong Kong, it has been no surprise to see the trainer’s sons zeroing in on progeny of Windsor Park Stud stallion Shamexpress during the Ready to Run Sale at Karaka this week.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Blockbuster Sale as NZB Ready to Run Records Tumble
Expectations were exceeded at Karaka with tremendous results witnessed across two days of selling at NZB’S 2024 Ready to Run Sale, confirming the demand for proven racetrack results and quality New Zealand-prepared horses.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Hawkesbury
Castelvecchio has gone from nowhere to somewhere during the course of this spring with three stakes-winners putting his name in lights and he had a promising three year-old colt salute at Hawkesbury on Thursday that has now won two of three starts.
Magic Millions 2025 Magazine Online
The 2025 Magic Millions magazine is now online with a great mix of gallery images, editorial and vendor profilies.
Express Yourself Returns to NZ
Group One performer Express Yourself has returned home from her spring campaign in Melbourne and is now on a path towards the Gr.1 TAB Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham on January 4.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.