Soriano’s Second Group 1 Success

Seasoned stakes performer Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel) claimed her second Group 1 win in the $300,000 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m) at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Soriano (NZ) triumphant in the Group 1 Herbie Dyke Stakes. Photo courtesy of Trish Dunell.

The daughter of Savabeel won her first Group 1 race two starts ago in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic at Ellerslie, followed by a second placing in the Group 1 Thorndon Mile.

Trained by Graeme and Debbie Rogerson, Soriano has produced seven wins from her 40 starts including five at stakes level.

“It was great to win the race again,” commented co-trainer Debbie Rogerson. “We won it last year with Costume and it was fantastic to win it again.

“She is a super mare, Soriano, she is getting better and better with age and it was a really good win. Rory (Hutchings) rode her absolutely superb and he was absolutely thrilled.”

Apprentice jockey Rory Hutchings has ridden Soriano in all of her starts this season and was on board again in Saturday’s victory.

With 250m to the post, Soriano challenged front runner Fast Dragon (Fastnet Rock) as she charged up the inside, not going around a runner, to take home another Group 1 victory by a long head. Nashville (NZ) (Darci Brahma) powered along the outside to claim second place and Fast Dragon finished in third position to complete a Karaka trifecta.

“She will run next at Otaki in the Group 1 mile and then we will decide where to next,” said Rogerson.

The five-year-old mare was offered at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale by Dormello Stud and has now earned $740,787 in prizemoney for owner and breeder Miss D Howell.

Soriano is out of stakes-winning dam, Call Me Lily (Just a Dancer), winner of the Listed Wagga Gold Cup. She has a half-sister, Affairoftheheart (Fusaichi Pegasus), who placed in the Listed Karaka Classic.