Racing: Top runner for rookie's first day

Bailey Rogerson will become the world s youngest licensed trainer on New Year s Day. Photo / Trish Dunell

Bailey Rogerson will become the world's youngest licensed trainer when she joins her grandfather Graeme Rogerson and his wife, Debbie, in a three-person training team on January 1.

Rogerson, 16, will have her first runner at Ellerslie on New Year's Day, including a starter in the Gr.1 Sistema Railway (1200m), as part of the training triumvirate to be known as Team Rogerson.

Rogerson has previously held a licence as an amateur rider, winning twice in that role this season, but expressed delight at getting her training licence rubber-stamped.

"I'm absolutely thrilled. It's indescribable really," Rogerson said.

"I've always been involved with the horses so it seemed inevitable it would go this way. Being involved as an amateur rider and as a trainer is a win-win situation for me."

Rogerson, whose application gained support from such racing luminaries as Sir Patrick Hogan, Lloyd Williams, Gerry Harvey, Garry Chittick, Chris Johnson, Lisa Allpress, Trudy Thornton, Max Whitby, Peter Ferguson and Merv Butterworth, said all her early memories were to do with racing. "There were always photos of me in the pushchair next to the stalls and I had my first pony at 3," she said. "I'll get the best advice and guidance and if I can be even half as successful as [Graeme and Debbie], I'd be very pleased."

Graeme Rogerson was chuffed to have his granddaughter joining him in partnership.

"I'm really looking forward to it. She's a natural and she works hard. Her knowledge is well beyond her years," he said.

"She's been involved all her life and she rides trackwork and at all the trials and she's currently the leading amateur rider this season. She'll fly."

Team Rogerson is likely to have about a dozen runners at the Ellerslie New Year's Day meeting with the rookie trainer volunteering Railway hopeful Ferrando as the horse she was most looking forward to saddling on her first day.

"We think he's a Group One horse. He won well the other day and he's come through it well. I ride him in all his work at home and I think he'll be a genuine winning chance in the Railway," she said.

Ferrando is set for some big assignments this season, but track conditions will be vital according to Graeme Rogerson. The Fast 'n' Famous entire scored impressively at Te Rapa the Saturday before last after disappointing runs in the Listed Counties Bowl (1100m) and Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint (1200m) earlier in his preparation.

"He's a dry track horse that can run time," Graeme Rogerson said. "He can run 1.08 and not a lot of horses can.

"The worst thing is if they water the track, he is not the same horse. He couldn't handle the track at Pukekohe when they watered it and the time before that at Te Rapa.

"If he gets a dry track Matt Cameron will ride him in the Railway. He'll head to the Telegraph and then we'll look at running in some of the big sprints in Australia. I've always thought he was good enough to compete in Australia's big sprints and he is a lovely horse."

- NZ Racing Desk