The Graeme Rogerson trained filly Dating returned to form with a G3 victory in the Desert Gold Stakes (1600m) at Trentham on Saturday.  

The Desert Gold was the latest leg of the NZ Bloodstock Filly of the Year Series and Dating moved into third spot on the table after defeating stablemates Angel Del Dinero (My Halo) and L’Amour (Towkay).

Dating (3f O’Reilly – Mandate by Sound Reason) won the Listed Ryder Stakes at Otaki in July and she resumed this season with a good third to Rememba Howe in the G3 Gold Trail Stakes at Hastings.

She was never sighted in the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas in November but Rogerson had no qualms about starting her first-up over 1600m after an 11 week spell.  “She did it brilliantly and I think that she is right up there with the best fillies in New Zealand,” Rogerson claimed.  “She had absolutely no luck in the 1000 Guineas and to see her back to her best is very pleasing.

Dating is a homebred for Waikato Stud and she will start next in the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic in the lead-up to the G1 NZ Oaks and/or NZ Derby in March.

She is by Waikato resident O’Reilly and is one of his 46 stakes winners to date.  Her dam Mandate won a 2YO Listed event at Riccarton and she trained on to win over 2200m at Trentham.  

Redoute’s Choice filly King’s Rose leads the NZB Filly of the Year Series with 26 points ahead of Smoulder (11) and Dating (9.5).  The next leg is the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic on February 12.