Group One Goal for Gift

Media Release - Monday December 17

Team Rogerson is poised to make a three-pronged attack on the Group I Sistema Railway (1200m) on New Year's Day after Gift Of Power started off a big day on Saturday for her breeders and part-owners, Sir Patrick and Justine, Lady Hogan.

Gift of Power cruises home alone - Race Images

Gift of Power cruises home alone - Race Images

The speedy Gift Of Power confirmed her place in the Railway squad with her runaway win at Awapuni on Saturday, joining stablemates Ferrando and Volks Lightning for a tilt at Ellerslie's major sprint.

Gift Of Power trounced her four rivals in the Plumbing World Handicap (1200m) to win by 10 and a half lengths in the hands of Lisa Allpress, easily smashing the 1200m track record in a remarkable 1:07.46, the final 600m in 33.39.

"She's a very quick filly. She's got so much speed and she showed that," Graeme Rogerson said.

"Her work had been sensational and I wasn't surprised to see her do that.

"Lisa lets her run along and that's what she likes."

Gift of Power, who has won 10 of her 19 starts, is being set for her main target of the summer, the Gr.1 JR & N Berkett Telegraph (1200m) at Trentham next month.

"Her main aim all the way has been the Telegraph at Trentham," Rogerson said.

"She's only been beaten once at Wellington and really she should be unbeaten there. But now we've got to look at the Railway."

All of Gift Of Power's 10 wins have been left-handed and she has been kept to left-handed racing in each of her last seven starts since she finished third to Melody Belle in the Gr.3 Mongolian Khan Trophy (1200m) on the right-handed Ellerslie course 11 months ago.

"She's better left-handed, but she has been working right-handed at home," Rogerson said. "She would only run in the Railway if she draws an alley so she can be on the rail."

Gift Of Power gets into the Railway on 53.5kg, 0.5kg less than Volks Lightning while Ferrando is weighted at 55.5kg.

Ferrando has been freshened since finishing sixth in the Gr.3 Stewards Stakes (1200m) at Riccarton and shaped nicely when winning over 1000m at last week's Te Aroha trials.

"His time for the 1000m was faster than Melody Belle ran and he did it easily," Rogerson said.

"He's very well and will be a good chance because he can take a sit. But he needs a good track. He doesn't like it if the track has been watered."

Ferrando was scratched from last season's Sistema Railway when heavy rain caused a downgrading which led to the abandonment of the final race.

Volks Lightning finished third behind Volpe Veloce in last season's Railway and she won the Gr.3 Sweynesse Stakes (1215m) at Rotorua before finishing fifth to Princess Kereru at Ellerslie earlier this month.

"She had 60 kilos last time and couldn't win with that weight," Rogerson said. "She's well and is better weighted in the Railway."

A half-brother by Tavistock to Gift Of Power will be offered in Brendan and Jo Lindsay's Cambridge Stud draft in Book 1 at the upcoming National Yearling Sales at Karaka. - NZ Racing Desk

Advertisment
More Reading...
Aussie Owner Buys into NZ Oaks Favourite
Prominent Australian owner Ozzie Kheir is looking to repeat history in this weekend’s Gr.2 David & Karyn Ellis Fillies’ Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa, after buying into the $1 million Gr.1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand Oaks (2400m) favourite Leica Lucy on Monday.
Lindsay Park Racing Chasing Kiwi G1
Well-performed Lindsay Park representative Here To Shock is back in familiar territory and thriving in his build-up toward Saturday’s feature sprint at Te Rapa.
Spirit of Boom Joins Century Club
As we move into February and the autumn carnivals start to kick off the race to be Champion Australian Sire by earnings will heat up and on the front of individual winners we have a dead heat at the top with five stallions now in the century club after Spirit of Boom hit his ton at Sandown on Saturday.
Cambridge Stud Bred Ima Brazen One Salutes
Progressive sprinting mare Ima Brazen One delivered on the promise she showed early in her career with an impressive victory at New Plymouth on Saturday.
Power 3YO Wins Singapore Guineas
With a powerful performance in Saturday’s S$1 million Singapore Guineas (1600m) at Kranji, Mr Clint (NZ) (Power) added his name to a proud recent record for New Zealand-breds and Karaka graduates in the prestigious three-year-old race.
Karaka Graduate Wins Singapore Gold Cup
Back in 2016, Mr Clint (NZ) (Power) attracted a total of less than $150,000 across his two trips through the Karaka sale ring. He has since forged a highly successful racing career in Singapore, which went to new heights on Sunday with victory in the S$1 million Dester Singapore Gold Cup (2000m).
Miracle She Survived - Possover Powers to Victory at Eagle Farm
After placing at her first two starts, things started to go pear-shaped for Possover when she parted company with her rider at Toowoomba before surviving a float rollover when returning home after disappointing at Ipswich on January 8.
More Stakes Success for Karaka Graduate Gift of Power
Talented sprinter Gift of Power took her stakes-winning tally to three at Otaki on Friday when she won the Listed Fasttrack Insurance Levin Stakes (1200m) in dominant fashion.
Remarkable Tale Of How Newcastle Trio Bred A Hong Kong Star
A trio of Newcastle racing enthusiasts who became hobby breeders with a mare who won only one country race in NSW and was purchased for $3000 can now lay claim to breeding a Hong Kong star.
Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale Online
The 2025 catalogue for the sale that provides more incentives to buyers than any other, the Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, is now online