Black Type Success for Ichiban (NZ)

Karaka graduate Ichiban (NZ) (Swiss Ace) secured his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the $50,000 Listed ARC Great Northern Foal Stakes (1400m) at Ellerslie.

Trainer and co-owner of Ichiban, Graeme Rogerson, rates the gelding as a future Group One prospect.

“He’s going to be a really good horse,” Rogerson said. “We’ve had a few big offers for him so I’ll have to talk to the other owners, but I would be happy to keep him for next season’s 2000 Guineas.”

Ichiban was in touch with the pace throughout and, despite racing greenly in the straight under Leith Innes, he held on to score narrowly from Quantum (NZ) (Keeper).

Rogerson also drew on his inside knowledge to gain confidence in Ichiban’s ability to handle Saturday’s Heavy 10 track conditions.

“I’ve had a bit of success with his family and they all handled wet tracks,” he said.

Rogerson has won seven races with Ichiban’s brother Staccato and he also prepared their relative Illuminates to win 10 races, including four at Listed level in Australia. Rogerson also purchased Ichiban’s sister for $65,000 at the 2016 Select Sale.

This was Ichiban’s second win from three starts. Offered by Westbury Stud, Ichiban was a $55,000 purchase from NZB’s 2015 Select Sale by Rogerson Bloodstock.