Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson has no doubt his regally bred gelding Richie McHorse has what it takes to go right to the top.
The three-year-old Redoute’s Choice gelding is the second foal of Gr. 1 New Zealand Oaks winner Boundless and is raced by his breeders Brent, Cherry and Faith Taylor. A promising debut placing at Te Aroha in early April was followed by a powerful finishing burst at Ellerslie to break his maiden status before taking on rating 65 company at Te Rapa on Saturday.
Punters took notice of those performances as they installed the gelding as favourite for the Dunstan Feeds sponsored 1600 metre contest and he didn’t disappoint as he produced another devastating finish to claim victory despite displaying some wayward tendencies in the run home.
“He’s a real good horse this bloke,” said a bullish Rogerson.
“He’s still got plenty to learn as he showed when he hit the front but he does everything that easily that I’m sure when he puts in all together he will go straight to the top.
“He travelled beautifully and when he went forward as they approached the turn he gathered them up in a few strides so he’s a very exciting horse in the making.”
Rogerson and wife Debbie have taken a patient approach with the gelding and that is set to continue as they eye up some bigger targets in the spring.
“We’ve taken our time with him as he’s needed that to develop so I’ll sit down and have a chat with Brent Taylor now and look at what our options are,” he noted.
“He will cope with a little cut in the track so we might go to Ellerslie next with him however there are some very nice races in the spring so he might go in the paddock instead.
“He has handled the mile with ease and on breeding you would expect that he can go further once he’s fully matured so I’m pretty excited about where he might get to next season.” – NZ Racing Desk
Photo supplied by Trish Dunell
