History Repeating With Rogerson’s Redwoods

Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson appears to have found a winning formula with progeny of Redwood that he sources from Karaka.

His latest rising star is Solidify (NZ) (Redwood), who scored an impressive win in Saturday’s $65,000 Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre 2YO Stakes (1200m) at Te Rapa. He was a $140,000 purchase from the 2022 Ready to Run Sale, and he has now won two of his three starts with the promise of much more ahead.

When Rogerson went to Karaka to buy Solidify from the Ready to Run Sale last November, he had just completed a special spring with the three-year-old Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood), who had won the Group One Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) in Sydney and was runner-up in the Group One Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington.

Bought for just $55,000 from Book 1 of Karaka 2021, Sharp ‘N’ Smart has now earned more than $3m in stakes. He has added two further Group One victories in the Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) and New Zealand Derby (2400m), then was put out for a spell after a brave fourth in unsuitable heavy ground in the Group One Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick.

It was during last year’s winter carnival in Brisbane that Sharp ‘N’ Smart first emerged as an exceptional young talent, and after Solidify surged home from well off the pace for a classy win at Te Rapa on Saturday, Rogerson is keen to follow a similar path.

“Ryan (Elliot, jockey) thinks he is every bit as good as Sharp ‘N’ Smart, which is pretty exciting,” Rogerson told NZ Racing Desk.

“I think the best part of his win today was he never really handled the heavy ground that well, but when Ryan asked him for an effort, he lengthened out and did it easily.

“I think he could be very smart, and you have to pinch yourself a little to have a pair like him and Sharp ‘N’ Smart in the stable.

“We took Sharp ‘N’ Smart to Brisbane last winter, and he was very unlucky not to win both of his starts. He was beaten a nose first-up and then ran fourth after suffering interference in the JJ Atkins (1600m).

“We’re going to try and win that with Solidify this time, although the path we take will depend on how he pulls up after today’s win. He could run at Pukekohe in the Futurity Stakes (1400m) on May 27, or he might go to Brisbane for the Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on the same day and then to the Atkins on the 10th of June.

“Whichever way we go, I think he will be able to show people just how good he is.”

Solidify was bred by Westbury Stud owner Gerry Harvey, who also bred the other stakes-winning two-year-old in New Zealand on Saturday – the Listed Champagne Stakes (1200m) winner Illicit Dreams (NZ) (Vancouver).

The dam of Solidify is The Warrior Woman (Redoute’s Choice), who won five races and is a full-sister to the Group One Australian Oaks (2400m) winner Royal Descent (Redoute’s Choice). Another half-sister, China Choice (Encosta De Lago), is the dam of two stakes winners including Hong Kong star Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi).

Saturday’s second placegetter Glamour Tycoon (Written Tycoon) was a $220,000 purchase from Book 1 of Karaka 2022. She has had just two starts to date, finishing second on both occasions.

Vendor	Westbury Stud
Purchaser	Rogerson Bloodstock (Waikato)
Breeding	Redwood – The Warrior Woman
Sale	Lot 16, Karaka 2022 Book 1, Psd (Res $50,000)Lot 304, 2022 Ready to Run Sale, $140,000
Bred by	G Harvey

Photo: Trish Dunell