Chartreuse Raises Spirits at Wanganui

The training duo of Stephen Autridge & Graeme Rogerson scored an impressive double at Wanganui on Saturday, taking out both Listed races on the card.

New Zealand Bloodstock sale graduate, Chartreuse (St Petersburg x Imzadi) won the Wanganui Racehorse Owners Association Stakes over 1200m in fine style, putting her on track for a tilt at the New Zealand Bloodstock One Thousand Guineas on 11 November. Bred by Peter and Philip Vela, the three-year-old filly was a $3500 purchase by Stephen Autridge at last year's Karaka Festival Sale and is raced by Stephen's wife, Lynley, in partnership with friends. The lightly raced filly has now had three wins from just four starts.

This result was followed two races later by Alberto (Magic Albert x Ballet Honours) taking out the Carters-Gib Wanganui Guineas over 1320m. This is now his fourth win from just five starts. Knocked down to Rogerson with a price tag of $77,500 at last year's Karaka Select Sale, from the Blandford Lodge draft, the three-year-old colt has also sparked interest in his half sister by Spartacus set for sale at next year's National Yearling Sale Series.

Meanwhile, the young sire Spectatorial received a timely boost when his daughter, Ovation (ex Harmonics), took out the first two-year-old race of the new season. Bred by Mark & Denny Baker of Hallmark Stud, where the stallion stands, Ovation was an $8,000 purchase by Dick Bothwell, at this year's Karaka Festival Sale. There are five horses by Spectatorial entered in November's Ready to Run Sale of Two-Year-Olds at Karaka on 21 & 22 November.