Punters got it bang on in the $45,000, Listed, Courtesy Ford Ryder Stakes for two-year-olds over 1200-metres at Otaki on Saturday.

The public elect Dating (2 Br. F. O’Reilly – Mandate, by Sound Reason) got home by a half-head margin over the second favourite Zennista (Zenno Rob Roy), with two-lengths to the third favourite Lol (General Nediym), finishing third.

While the first pair staged a duel in the home straight after racing handy, Lol sustained her run from last in the field of sixteen.

The race was not without controversy following the Judge’s call as connections of Zennista, ridden by Kelly Myers, lodged a protest alleging interference by Dating, with James McDonald aboard, inside the final furlong. After reviewing evidence and submissions the enquiry was dismissed.

While the Graeme & Debbie Rogerson-trained Dating was off a let-up following a smart win at Te Rapa over 1200-metres on heavy footing on June 12, Zennista had won three weeks earlier on her home track at Awapuni over 1200-metres on a heavy track for trainer Lisa Latta.

Lol had been the most recent of the trio to have competed, when finding the line in notable fashion for sixth to Upsala (Oratorio) in the Listed, Northland Breeders’ Stakes at Ruakaka over 1200-metres on July 17, with footing rated Dead6.

Bred and owned by Mark and Garry Chittick at Waikato Stud, Dating has now won three of her four starts, and despite prevailing again on heavy footing in a time of 1:15.04 for the 1200-metres it seems class is a prevalent factor in her ability to handle testing ground, while the best of her is expected to be seen when the tracks improve through the Spring.

Dating paid $3.40 & $1.70 on the NZ TAB.

The Rogerson stable had already tasted success earlier in the day when Queen Sabeel (3 Br. F. Savabeel – Vanessatheundressa, by Carnegie) won stylishly at Te Rapa for jockey Samantha Spratt.

Bred by co-trainer Graeme Rogerson MNZM, The Whitby Bloodstock Trust & T Wells, Queen Sabeel is shared in ownership by Rogerson & J F Woodward.

As with Dating, Waikato Stud had a hand to play in the victory of Queen Sabeel, being by their up-and-coming sire Savabeel (Zabeel).

Savabeel was trained by Rogerson in Australia to become only the second three-year-old in twenty years to win the Cox Plate, in 2004.

Said by Mark Chittick to have produced the best topline of foals at Waikato Stud, the first crop of Savabeel progeny are rising four-year-olds, and as has been evidenced within the progeny of Zabeel and his sire, the legendary Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor), the fireworks should be about to begin.