Shootoff Fires Big Shot For Duelled

Saturday's Group 3 Flinders Lane Frank Packer Plate (2000m) at Sydney saw Shootoff bring up the biggest win of his career to date, and become the first stakes winner for his sire Duelled.

Ridden well by jockey Michael Rodd, he elected to keep Shootoff (Duelled x Athenri) on the fence at the 600 metre mark, and brought the three-year-old into the race, taking the lead at the top of the straight. Always looking a winner, the son of Duelled raced away from the field and won the race comfortably by three-and-a-half lengths.

The win was his second for his trainer Graeme Rogerson, and has come after placing twice at stakes level, including a third in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes behind Erewhon and the very smart Retrieve.

NZB graduate Muirfield (Don Eduardo) ran a good third in the race, completing a successful weekend for his sire Don Eduardo whose son Don Domingo won the Group 3 Hawke's Bay Gold Cup.

Shootoff's trainer Graeme Rogerson was very impressed with the three-year-old's win.

"He's a very good horse, he is a typical Duelled and has taken some time to mature but he has always had a lot to offer on the track and I think he will be a very good Cups horse."

"We will be aiming him towards the Group 1 Queensland Derby and the Group 1 Doomben Cup for his next starts."

Shootoff's win was also a big result for his sire Duelled as the victory has brought up his first stakes success as a stallion. Duelled has sired 11 winners from 39 runners, including the smart Endor, trained by Graeme & Debbie Rogerson, who will also be looking for Australian stakes success at the up and coming Brisbane Winter Carnival.

A son of Redoute's Choice from the Sir Tristram mare Leica Pretender, Duelled was purchased by Rogerson as a yearling for $300,000 and trained by him. He showed early promise with a stakes placing at two at Flemington, and followed it up with two Group 1 placings at three - in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes and Group 1 Gloaming Stakes - plus a Group 2 win in the AAMI Vase at Moonee Valley beating eventual VRC Derby winner Benecio.

Rogerson had a big impression of the young Duelled, "a great racehorse that we never saw the best of."

"Duelled as a sire has really started to hit his straps now, and with Endor running in top form at present, there could be more black-type success coming his way," commented Graeme.

"He has some good young progeny coming through the grades and currently in training, so it is an exciting time for the horse."

Shootoff was bought by GR Sydney from Dormello Stud at the 2009 Ready to Run Sale for $35,000.

In a timely boost for Rogerson's Dormello Stud Unreserved Dispersal Sale at Karaka starting on Monday (2 May), Duelled's progeny make up a large proportion of the Stud's draft. In total there are 68 entries that will feature as part of New Zealand Bloodstock's National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale, with 32 weanlings, 26 yearlings, five two-year-olds, five racehorses (one in the new Horses-in-Training Sale session) and one unraced horse.

Some of Duelled's progeny include:

� Lot 8, the weanling colt from the stakes winning mare Rosa Marada (Yamanin Vital), a sister to the Group 3 winner Requisite.

� Lot 303, a weanling half-brother to the Group 1 winner The Mighty Lions (Grosvenor) and the stakes placed Promise Keeper (Success Express).

� Lot 748, the yearling colt from Eyes On (Palatable), a sister to the Group 3 winner Eye Full, the dam of the Group 1 winner Gaze (Cape Cross).

The 2011 National Weanling, Broodmare & Mixed Bloodstock Sale will be held at the Karaka Sale Complex next week from 2 - 4 May. For a catalogue please contact NZB on 09 298 0055 or reception@nzb.co.nz. The catalogue can also be viewed online at www.nzb.co.nz.