Racing: King's Rose the latest Oaks victim

Cent Per Cent (the grey) was one of three winners for the Rogerson stable when he scored at Te Rapa on Saturday. Photo / Supplied

The Filly Of The Year series can take its toll.

Favourite King's Rose became yet another Oaks victim on Saturday, in a race that has become a graveyard for favourites in recent times.

The series means fillies start in the spring and continue through to the autumn.

Sensibly, the time to give 3-year-olds a break of some sort is over Christmas/New Year, but it's difficult for fillies to win their series missing the Eight Carat Classic on Boxing Day at Ellerslie and the Royal Stakes on January 1.

King's Rose has done no harm to her reputation by being beaten into seventh on Saturday - she was clearly the best of her age group through the season and had the Filly Of The Year series tied up before Saturday.

She was held up briefly in the home straight when Insurgent changed ground, but that made little difference to her finishing position.

When questioned by stipendiary stewards, rider Opie Bosson said King's Rose travelled well for most of the race, but was disappointing when asked for her best in the home straight.

She will now be spelled.

EGO RESTORED
There were no dramas yesterday with sprinter Ego, who was retired from the open sprint at Te Rapa on Saturday.

Everyone feared the worst when Ego was quickly pulled up at the end of the back straight.

Everyone but trainer Ben Foote.

"I knew what had gone wrong straight away - he stands on the plate on his off-front and tears it off. In his last three starts he's pulled that plate. He did it when he won at Matamata and was very sore after the race.

"I don't know why he's suddenly doing it because he's a nicely actioned horse."

Foote said Ego would now be spelled and aimed at the Hastings spring treble.

BIG DAY
For the Debbie and Graeme Rogerson barn, Cent Per Cent downed the sprinters at Te Rapa with juvenile Dowager Queen getting the money on the same programme. Iceskates topped it off winning the last at Trentham.

TOO MANY?
Is 18 runners perhaps a couple too many for a race like the Oaks. the big pack looked a little over the top at times on Saturday and there was no shortage of interference. It's one thing to give as many fillies as possible a chance at glory, but large fields can take that away too.

FORGIVE
Sepoy, despite being beaten in the Todman Slipper trial. One of the Australian commentators said it looked as though Sepoy might have trained off because he was off the bit and being ridden at the 600m.

If horses are slightly over the top they don't come off the bit at the 600m in a 1200m race, it will be in the closing stages.

History tells you it's difficult to win the Blue Diamond and the Golden Slipper and the edge may have come off Sepoy a fraction from Melbourne, but on Saturday he was far from enjoying the wet conditions and he didn't have that on his own at Rosehill.

He fought strongly for second and clearly the winner, Smart Missile, is also very good.

BACK THESE
Glorious Days: Got punters the money on debut, but had to barge his way out to do it. raced clear late and has potential in much toughergrades.

Nuits St George and So Divine cost punters plenty in being beaten in separate races at Trentham. Neither were massively disappointing though and both looked like they need 2000m next start.

Poste Restante: Looks a filly of huge potential. Showed plenty of fight to win on debut and can only improve.

Not Tonite: His night was over when he was knocked out of the race at the end of the back straight.

Cent Per Cent and Pasta Post: A lot more will be heard from both after their sprint performances on Saturday, particularly Cent Per Cent when there's a bit of rain around.

Seducer: Made up a huge amount of ground late from last at the 600m. A horse on the move.

Second Hope: Didn't have a lot of room to move in behind the leaders in the home straight and the unplaced run can be forgotten.

Deputy: Made his run and hit the front a fair way from home in the St Leger and paid the price, being run down late. Very promising stayer.