New Zealand continued its assault on Australia’s classics when the Graeme Rogerson trained Shootoff (NZ) proved too strong in the G1 Queensland Derby (2400m) on Saturday.

Rogerson has enjoyed a memorable Brisbane carnival.  Saturday’s Derby was his second Group 1 coming on top of the Queensland Oaks taken out by his hugely talented Savabeel filly Scarlett Lady (NZ).

Shootoff (3g Duelled – Athenri by Zabeel) settled a little better than midfield in transit before Michael Rodd went forward at the 700m mark.  The Kiwi gelding ranged up to hit the front and then held off the fillies Shez Sinsational (Ekraar) and Heidilicious (Zabeel) in a New Zealand bred trifecta.

“It was a great performance, he’s a tough horse,” Rogerson said.  “We are going to keep him in Sydney for the weight-for-age races and the Metropolitan Handicap before sending him to Melbourne.”

The spring carnivals are looking good for Rogerson with Scarlett Lady also being aimed at a Cups campaign.

Shootoff is the first Group 1 winner for Rogerson’s young sire Duelled (Redoute’s Choice).  “We have weighed up all the options for Duelled and he will stay in New Zealand at Dormello Stud for a fee of $2,500 this season,” Rogerson revealed.  “It’s not every day you can send your mare to a Group 1 sire for that price.

“Duelled has a number of horses coming through to keep up the momentum.  Sending him to Australia would have been a bad move.  He is in New Zealand to stay.”

Rogerson bought Duelled for $300,000 at the 2004 Gold Coast Magic Millions and trained him to a G2 victory in the MVRC AAMI Vase.  He is a Redoute’s Choice three-quarter brother to Nothin’ Leica Dane and retired to Dormello Stud in 2006.