High hopes for Queensland-bound fillies

A pair of Group One performers will spearhead Graeme and Debbie Rogerson’s team to the Queensland winter carnival.

Serena Miss and Reminisce have both been off the scene for some months, but they have benefitted from their time out and have begun slow and steady build-ups toward foreign shores.

“Serena Miss had a couple of hard runs at Riccarton so she had a decent spell – she didn’t leave the stable and had a paddock here and came in at night,” Debbie Rogerson said.

The powerfully-built daughter of Iffraaj won the Gr.2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial in the spring and finished third behind Xtravagant in the Gr.1 NZ 2000 Guineas before she unsuccessfully backed up in the Gr.1 NZ 1000 Guineas.

“She’s come back really well – she’s a magnificent looking filly and she’s really filling out her frame,” Rogerson said.

The Gr.3 Doomben Roses on May 26 and the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks a fortnight later are the likely targets for Serena Miss, and likewise for Reminisce.

The latter won two of her six starts last season and she hasn’t raced since she powered home for third behind Marky Mark and Rocanto in the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes a year ago.

The Roc de Cambes filly also came home strongly for fourth behind stablemate Serena Miss in the Gr.2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes.

“She had a few niggling issues and the time out has worked wonders for her,” Rogerson said.

“She’s has come back a far stronger filly and we’re really happy with her.”