Future Looks Good For Dating (June 16 2010)

Debbie Rogerson's favourable first impressions of Dating have proved on the mark with the WS-bred and raced filly now looming as a prime contender for stakes honours next season. The two-year-old has won two of her three starts and could easily have a perfect record after finishing fourth at her debut.

"She was unlucky not to win at her first start at Matamata where she was wriggling around in the barrier," said co-trainer Rogerson, who prepares the two-year-old with husband Graeme. By O'Reilly, Dating is a sister to the multiple winner and Miracle Miss, who was also Gr 3 placed in the Taranaki Cup and finished fourth in the Gr 1 NZ 1000 Guineas. They are out of the Listed South Island stakes winner Mandate, who is also the dam of three-time winner and Gr 1 NZ 2000 Guineas fourth placegetter Coup Timaru.

Dating followed up her Matamata fourth with a convincing victory at Pukekohe after racing three wide without cover. Most recently she enjoyed a perfect run at Te Rapa and again proved far too strong for her opposition in the straight.

Rogerson said Dating had always showed plenty of potential and she was confident the youngster would be competitive in the prestige fillies' events next term. "I definitely think she's up to that and we don't have to worry too much about track conditions - she seems to handle anything so that's another plus."

Meanwhile, a son of O'Reilly also looks destined to play a starring role in good company after a stylish debut victory. The Shaune Ritchie-trained Silver Sparkle made the long trip from Cambridge to Trentham recently worthwhile with a runaway success. The three-year-old, who had been a trial winner, is out of a sister to the dams of Gr 1 Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes winner Il Quello Veloce and triple Australian stakes winner Our Lukas.