Racing: Season goes down to wire

Graeme Rogerson takes a deep breath - which he doesn't often have time to do - and says he'll one day soon tally up how many career winners he's trained.

"I must get it done - I reckon it's more than 3000."

The irrepressible Rogerson has countless balls in the air.

Always has, always will - he was looking at a good percentage of his own broodmares when we called yesterday.

One of the balls being juggled is trying to secure his 11th New Zealand Trainers Premiership this weekend.

The odds are with him, although even he accepts that it could go down to the wire against Matamata's Mark Walker late tomorrow afternoon.

Rogerson and his training partner Stephen Autridge have a one-win advantage over Walker going into Te Rapa today.

Walker has a particularly strong quartet in Congaline, Tenjuberrymud, Olympic Light and the unbeaten Polish Princess as well as in-form Zamfir, who unfortunately faces Seachange in Race 4.

Rogerson-Autridge's stable has eight runners at Te Rapa, but two strong winning chances at Otaki, Vegas Showgirl and Cullcha.

Then tomorrow they have 10 runners at the final meeting of the season at Oamaru.

If Walker wins with two of his five runners today and Rogerson-Autridge win with just, say, Vegas Showgirl then the pair are tied with Rogerson-Autridge looking at 10 chances tomorrow.

Rogerson clearly wants to win this, as he does everything, but he is equally proud of his place in the ownership ranks.

"I'd say I'm New Zealand's biggest owner.

"In the new season, I reckon I'll go close to winning 150 races with horses I own or have shares in."

Walker says the birth of his first child last week was the priority rather than the premiership for him and wife Julia, but if it happens it will be nice.

Walker sees Congaline in Race 10 as his best chance today. Rogerson nominated Prizering in the steeplechase at Oamaru tomorrow.

Vegas Showgirl should win for Rogerson and Autridge today.