Trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson are pleased they have a live chance in the inaugural $350,000 Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic (1600m) at Te Rapa on Saturday-week following Chaource’s win at the Hamilton track on Wednesday.

The three-year-old daughter of Reliable Man was having her fourth career start in the Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic Qualifier (1600m), and she couldn’t have picked a better time to break through for her maiden victory, scoring by a long head over Herbert and securing a golden ticket for the rich innovation race.

“It was a nice win,” Debbie Rogerson said. “She was actually very unlucky last start, things didn’t quite go to plan for her, so it was very pleasing to see her win yesterday.

“I have always had a lot of time for the filly, she is a very big filly, but she has just needed that little bit of time.”

While she has yet to be tested over further than a mile, Rogerson believes Chaource will thrive over the 2400m distance of the Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks and will be given her opportunity at the Al Basti Equiworld Dubai-sponsored Classic at Trentham next month if she comes through her Karapiro Classic run in good order.

“She will definitely run in the Sir Patrick Hogan race and then we will assess everything after that and whether she can keep going forward for an Oaks preparation or not,” Rogerson said.

“As a three-year-old filly (she does give the indication she will get 2400m). Just how much more she can take I am not too sure because she is a very big girl, but now she is pleasing me and doing everything correct.

“We will just assess everything after the 10^th (of February).”

Rogerson is pleased to have secured the last golden ticket into the Sir Patrick Hogan Karapiro Classic, particularly given her close association with the late Cambridge Stud founder, having trained a number of horses for him, headlined by multiple Group One winner Katie Lee.

“I was very close to Sir Patrick Hogan. We had great days with Katie Lee and had plenty of other winners we have trained for the late Sir Patrick Hogan,” Rogerson said. “It is very pleasing to get a position in that race and it will be even more fruitful if we can pull it off and win it.

“These innovation races are great. They are super incentives, and it is great for New Zealand racing.”

While Chaource will be chasing Karapiro Classic honours next week, stablemate and reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year Sharp ‘N’ Smart will head to the same meeting to try and defend his crown in the Gr.1 Herbie Dyke Stakes (2000m).

The son of Redwood finished sixth in the inaugural $1 million Elsdon Park Aotearoa Classic (1600m) at Ellerslie last Saturday, and Rogerson said he is looking for further ground this preparation.

“It was a little bit short for him and the track was a little bit not to his liking,” she said. “This preparation he wants to be a staying horse. We were trying to get him ready for the Melbourne Cup (Gr.1, 3200m) last preparation, but he got that virus. This time in he is a lot bigger and stronger, and he is working more like a real staying horse who wants further.”

Having competed in the Aotearoa Classic, Sharp ‘N’ Smart is now eligible for the New Zealand Summer Series Bonus and will compete in the final two legs of the series to try and claim the $500,000 prize.

“He runs in the Herbie Dyke and then he will run in the New Zealand Stakes (Gr.1, 2000m). They are his main aims here in New Zealand and we couldn’t be happier with the horse,” Rogerson said.

“We have seen it (bonus). Someone has got to win it and it would be lovely if we could.”

If Sharp ‘N’ Smart performs well in his next two assignments, a trip across the Tasman is on the cards where he will get his chance over two-miles at Group One level.

“All going well, he will go to those two races in New Zealand, and then there are two races for him in Sydney – the Chairman’s (Gr.2, 2600m) and Sydney Cup (Gr.1, 3200m).”

Meanwhile, Rogerson was rapt with Just As Sharp’s performance in the $1.5 million TAB Karaka Millions 3YO (1600m) last Saturday when flying home late to capture third place.

He is set to progress towards the Gr.1 Trackside New Zealand Derby (2400m) at Ellerslie next month to try and make it back-to-back wins in the Classic for the stable after Sharp ‘N’ Smart was triumphant in the time-honoured race which was held at Te Rapa last year.

“Just As Sharp has come through his run on Saturday super,” Rogerson said. “He will run in the Avondale Guineas (Gr.2, 2100m) and then into the New Zealand Derby. I couldn’t be happier with the horse.”