New training partnership on the board
Hall of Fame trainer Graeme Rogerson and his wife Debbie have been joined in a training partnership by Clint Isdale, with the new entity off to a winning start on day one when talented staying mare Skymax ran out a strong winner of a Rating 72 event over 2000m at the Cambridge Synthetic on Wednesday.
“It was a great way to start of the new partnership with Clint,” Debbie Rogerson said.
“She needed that kill today and she has had no luck in her races. As a three-year-old she ran in top company without a win but going good races.
“She deserved to be favourite and I was pleased to see her keep going through the line and learn to win again.
“She has got good staying ability and we will keep going through the grades with her.”
With ten runners engaged, the new training partnership had a winner and six placings on a fruitful opening day.
Former Cambridge trainer Isdale, who prepared stakes winners Only Words and Knights Realm, said the move to Tuhikaramea has already been positive on a personal front.
“I was doing 120 hours a week by myself, and I have a little boy at home and he doesn’t care if I work that many hours or not, he just wants to play with his Dad when I get home,” Isdale said.
“We had an exodus of horses sent to Australia and Graeme just came knocking at the right time.
“My uncles were in Polar Success and Savabeel, so there has been a family connection for a long time, and he has welcomed my family into part of his.
“Graeme has always looked after me and I have done breakers for him in the past. I did a bit of work with Mascarpone back in the day when he won the Group One (Otaki WFA, 1600m) and we have had a great association.”
With the powers combined, the Rogerson-Isdale partnership has around 80 horses in work.
“Ever since I have known Graeme, he has been cutting back, but with the partnership we have gone from about 40 horses to around 80,” Isdale said.
“But it has been really good since I have been there.
“There are not too many people here that could do what he has done. He’s trained a Cox Plate winner, a Golden Slipper winner and a Melbourne Cup winner, so to be in that company and helping him is an honour.”
