Derby decision pending for Katie Lee

BY AIDAN RODLEY

Sir Patrick Hogan is pulling rank - but chances are he will still fall into line.

The Cambridge Stud boss savoured one of his most cherished moments as an owner when Katie Lee won Saturday's Gr II $100,000 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic (2000m) at Te Rapa.

It completed a memorable fortnight for Sir Patrick, who began the month with his 28th consecutive year as the National Premier Yearling Sale's leading vendor, highlighted with a $2 million sale for a Zabeel-Diamond Like colt he bred.

A grey filly bred by Te Kauwhata's Hallmark Stud and bought by Sir Patrick as a yearling for $340,000 at Karaka in 2008, Katie Lee continued a stellar season with Saturday's success her fifth stakes win following her Gr I double in the 1000 and 2000 Guineas (both 1600m) at Riccarton and other wins in the Gr II Eight Carat Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie and Listed Sarten Memorial (1400m) at Te Rapa.

Her other three starts this term have each resulted in Group placings.

Saturday's win was enough to prompt co-trainer Graeme Rogerson to suggest the $2.2 million New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie on March 6 was the next logical progression for the glamour Hamilton filly.

His wife and the filly's co-trainer Debbie Rogerson agreed it was the right race for the filly to next contest.

"Debbie's done a wonderful job with this filly. Her blood [test] yesterday was absolutely perfect - you wouldn't get her any fitter," Rogerson said.

"I just hope Patrick runs her in the Derby. She's won the filly of the year series now so she doesn't have to go to the Oaks and I'd love to run her in the Derby but that's up to Patrick. She'll get any distance."

Rogerson produced top filly Grand Archway to finish third in the 1999 Gr I AJC Derby and last year had Awesome Planet contest the Gr I Queensland Derby among the fillies he has tried in Derby contests in the past.

"I've had a few of them but this filly is not just a racehorse, she's a freak. I hope he runs her in the Derby. That would be just fantastic."

Sir Patrick, who races Katie Lee in partnership with his wife Justine, Lady Hogan, was open to the idea but said he wanted time to consider the option before committing to taking on the top colts and geldings - and leading Derby contender, Matamata filly Zarzuela.

Told of Rogerson's Derby hopes for the filly, Sir Patrick asked: "Did he also say I'm the boss? I thought so."

He added: "I've stipulated that a week out from each race that we get a blood [test] done to make sure everything is right with her and if it ever showed it wasn't we would pull the pin and turn her out.

"Each time it's come back perfect. At Riccarton for the 1000 Guineas, trainers looked at her and said she's carrying a bit of condition but that must be because they want this run to get her at her peak next weekend in the 2000 Guineas.

"After she won the first day, those trainers couldn't believe that she paraded for the 2000 Guineas looking even prettier than the first day. She's just such a good do-er.

"I keep asking myself have I gone too far? She's been up since June but she just thrives. We put her out for a week after the 2000 Guineas and she put on so much weight that we had to bring her straight back.

"We'll have a look at the Derby. My father told me once years ago that when they are winning, don't stop - the first bad race, pull the pin.

"Bart Cummings says turn a filly out too long and they start laying fat down inside and you won't get it out."

Going into Saturday's race, Sir Patrick had said he would pull his sponsorship of the race next year if the race didn't receive an upgrade to Gr I level.

However in the euphoria which followed Katie Lee's win, he committed to another year but also repeated his calls for the Graded Stakes Committee to accord the race Gr I status next year, an appeal which gained further momentum when 2008 winner Veloce Bella gained a Gr I win in the Darci Brahma International Stakes at Te Rapa later on the programme.

Handled expertly in his first ride on the filly by Mark Du Plessis, Katie Lee travelled well throughout and slipped clear in the straight and despite swishing her tail in the closing 50m, held on to win by a short neck, over the late-finishing November Rain.

Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett was thrilled with November Rain's second placing, joking that Katie Lee swishing her tail had hampered his filly, who will now be considered as a late entry for both the New Zealand Derby and the Gr I $300,000 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) at Trentham on March 20.

C'mon Cuba producing a career-best run for third 1 1/2 lengths back. Veronica Franco was fourth ahead of Corsage, Posavina and Miss Sharapova.

Sir Patrick, who also won the race in 2001 with Singalong, was full of praise for Du Plessis' handling, though indicating the suspended Opie Bosson had first right of refusal if she did contest the Derby, as well as the Rogersons' preparation.

"She's the best filly in the country and the best three-year-old - she's proved that today," he said.

"I've been in breeding and racing for a long time but these days it's the trophies I strive for not the money. Graeme and Debbie Rogerson have trained her to absolute perfection which they always do with any horse they train for me."

Debbie Rogerson said she knew Katie Lee was ready to win when she attended to the filly the night before the races.

"I went to put her in the aqua walker and she doing wheelies and bucking and saying `come on let's go'. She loves racing - she loves stable life and she's a happy horse."

- © Fairfax NZ News