Dowager Queen (NZ) is Sydney bound after taking out the Listed Fordell O’Leary Stakes at Wanganui on Saturday.

The Graeme Rogerson trained filly will be seen next in the G2 Tea Rose Stakes on September 15 with the G1 Flight Stakes also on the agenda.

Dowager Queen (3f Savabeel – Dower by Pins) was racing first-up after a hit-and-run trip to the Brisbane winter carnival.  She was a class above her rivals coming from last to nose out the Kevin Gray-trained Testa Secret (Testa Rossa).

“She’s not a big horse but she’s strong and tough,” Rogerson said.  “I think she will be competitive over a mile in Australia.”

Dowager Queen will join G1 Queensland Oaks winner Scarlett Lady (Savabeel) crossing the Tasman.  After Sydney, she will head to Melbourne for the MRC Thousand Guineas and VRC Oaks.

Scarlett Lady (NZ) was installed as the new favourite for the Caulfield Cup after a moderate performance by Lights of Heaven (Zabeel) in Saturday’s G2 Makybe Diva Stakes.

Scarlett Lady impressed first-up in the Makfi Challenge at Hastings   “There’s a lot of water to pass under the bridge yet but we’re very happy with her,” Rogerson said.  “It’s unbelievable to think she ran her last 600 metres in 33.94s at Hastings and still finished out of the money.