Written by Paul Vettise
Co-trainer Graeme Rogerson has tipped a bright future for a Divine Prophet colt, who is qualified for a lucrative money back bonus if he can build on the early promise he has displayed.
Rogerson has formed a good early opinion of the as yet unnamed youngster, who had to overcome trouble at the start of his 800 metre heat at Te Aroha to dash home and score by 1.5l to become the first trial winner for the Aquis-based stallion.
The colt is eligible for a handsome bonus if he can reproduce that form on race day with Aquis offering a major incentive to buyers of Divine Prophet’s first-crop progeny at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
A win at a Saturday metropolitan race at Ellerslie, Trentham, Sydney or Melbourne on or before the Karaka Million will trigger the bonus with $50,000 also on offer to the successful breeder.
“They can win their purchase price back. My next call will be to Tony Fung to tell him to have the cheque book ready,” Aquis Managing Director Shane McGrath said.
“My next call will be to Tony Fung to tell him to have the cheque book ready.” – Shane McGrath
“The incentive has been all geared around people that support Aquis and Divine Prophet and they’ll be nobody happier than us to be writing the cheques.”
Rogerson will be eyeing up that bonus following his colt’s display on Tuesday morning.
“He was 10l behind them after he got squeezed up at the start and lost touch and then Sam Collett gave him a dig at the furlong and wow, he found the gears,” he said.
“He’s showed us a fair bit at home and he’s a lovely style of horse. He’ll probably have another trial and race at Te Rapa at the end of next month.”
Divine Prophet x Caramellos (NZ) (colt)
The colt was bred by the Taylor family’s Koru Thoroughbreds and was sold at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale for NZ$95,000 to BOP Bloodstock.
He was then purchased by Rogerson and Lou Te Keeti, who are both part of the ownership syndicate, for NZ$120,000 when re-offered as a yearling during Book 1 at Karaka earlier this year.
His dam Caramellos (NZ) (Pins) is a sister to the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Viennetta (NZ), dam of the G3 McNeil S. winner and Group 1 performer Golden Archer (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Caramellos is also a three-quarter sister to the G2 Theo Marks S. winner Mackintosh (NZ), also third in the G1 Epsom H. and the family of the Group 1-winning siblings Anacheeva (Anabaa {USA}) and Headturner.
Guineas hero
Divine Prophet won three races, including the G1 Caulfield Guineas, before he retired to Aquis where he has been well-supported.
Divine Prophet | Standing at Aquis Farm
“Graeme Rogerson has been telling me how good his one was for a while so I’m delighted the colt has run up to his early expectations,” McGrath said.
“Koru have been great supporters and the Taylor’s son Nick works in the nominations team for us in Queensland so it’s a nice connection.
“He’s a real flagship horse for us as a Caulfield Guineas winner. We supported him heavily and most of the breeders have and a lot of people have been well-rewarded in the sales ring so hopefully they’ll go on with it on the track.”
Divine Prophet stands at $22,000 (inc GST) with his first crop selling for up to $375,000 in 2020.
