Like Many, Rogerson Looking Forward to Winx's Return

Graeme Rogerson has trained the winners of Melbourne Cups (G1), Cox Plates (G1) and Golden Slippers (G1), but the remarkable New Zealander can also lay claim to breeding and racing Vegas Showgirl (Al Akbar), the dam of champion mare Winx (Street Cry). 

Winx mania is again in full swing as the Chris Waller-trained mare prepares to line up in a race named after her, the Aug. 18 Winx Stakes (G1) at Randwick, as she seeks to record a remarkable 26th consecutive victory. It will mark her first race since winning the April 14 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes (G1) at Randwick.

Lining up against her will be stablemates Religify (Choisir), Libran (Lawman), D'Argento (So You Think), and Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock), as well as top-class 4-year-old Kementari (Lonhro). Winx has drawn barrier 5 in the field of 11 with late nomination Kementari jumping from barrier 7 for trainer James Cummings and jockey Glyn Schofield. 

Among those watching will be Rogerson, who continues to marvel at what has transpired with the now 7-year-old. He recalled how he had come to breed Vegas Showgirl. 

"There was a group of us, and I bought the mother, a Voodoo Rhythm mare, in Melbourne and we had her down at stud and we ended going to Al Akbar (to produce Vegas Showgirl)," he said. Vegas Showgirl, who started her career as an October 2-year-old on a firm surface, excelled on wet tracks, winning three times on heavy surfaces as well as being runner-up to Mimi Lebrock (Show A Heart) in February 2008 in the Sheraco Stakes (listed, 1,100 meters) at Rosehill on a Heavy 10 track. "She was a very good wet weather horse," said Rogerson. 

After racing her 35 times for seven wins and nine placings, Rogerson and his fellow owners sold Vegas Showgirl for $455,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale to Colm Santry Bloodstock. 

She was purchased by Santry on behalf of John Camilleri's Fairway Thoroughbreds who sent her to Encosta de Lago (Fairy King), with her first foal, the unraced Miss Atom Bomb, who incidentally produced a winner in Nuclear Blitz (Sepoy) at Pakenham Aug. 13. 

"Gerry Harvey was the under bidder. He buys a lot of mares off me and he asked me what the reserve was. He came to me a few times and looked at her, but she went for just a little bit more than the reserve," the trainer said. "She wasn't cheap, really. She is cheap now, but not then." 

Rogerson also experienced success with Vegas Showgirl's group 3-placed half sister Black Magic Maggie (Westminster) and Black Magic Maggie's full sister Westmagic (Westminster), who won three races. Rogerson now owns two daughters out of the latter. One of those daughters, unraced Antalaga (Duelled), whose first foal by Swiss Ace (Secret Savings) is likely to be offered at next year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, is due to foal to Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) this month at Arrowfield Stud. 

He has ownership in Antalaga with Sydney businessman Paul Favretto, while Rogerson also has winning mare Eagle Magic (Duelled) set to foal to Maurice (Screen Hero) at Arrowfield Stud this year to maintain his association with Winx's family. 

"I kept two out of a half sister to Vegas Showgirl and sold half of one to a bloke in Sydney called Paul Favretto who never raced and I kept the other who never raced," said Rogerson. 

Vegas Showgirl is not the first topline broodmare Rogerson has sold during his long and successful career, with the trainer regularly represented at the Magic Millions sales as a vendor. 

"I put a lot of mares through the sale of Gerry Harvey's," he said. "I've sold a lot of good horses. I sold the mother of Awesome Rock, a group 1 winner, and I had Malambo in this year but I couldn't get my reserve, so I ended up keeping her. She is off to Melbourne now with Chris Waller."

Rogerson, who trained 2004 Cox Plate winner and now champion New Zealand stallion Savabeel (Zabeel), has also been associated with 2003 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Polar Success (Success Express) and trained now proven Arrowfield Stud-based sire Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice). He also won the 2007 Melbourne Cup with Efficient (Zabeel), who he trained for owner Lloyd Williams and several partners. 

"People go along to watch Winx race and I am glad people got success out of Vegas Showgirl," he said. "It was a bit like Savabeel. I had him sold three or four times, but I ended up syndicating him for $10 million to Waikato Stud here in New Zealand. I also bought Not A Single Doubt as a yearling and he has gone on to do well at stud. I trained him and won four with him and then I sold him."