Greg Rogers chalks up a double at headquarters
Unsafe conditions forced the abandonment of Saturday’s Globe Derby Park meeting after just three races, but it was enough for senior reinsman Greg Rogers to remind everyone of his talent in the sulky.
Rogers, 69, drove two of the three races run before stewards called an end to the meeting.
He produced a wonderful drive to land Feng Shui Star a winner of the Kingsford Hotel Pace (1800m) before leading throughout on Jawsofgoodtime in the Horse Queened Pace (1800m).
Heavy rain on Saturday resulted in the track surface being rain-affected and made visibility terrible for the drivers giving stewards no option but to abandon the meeting after three races.
Once a sought-after freelance reinsman, Rogers has taken a lower profile over the past decade, preferring to train and drive a small team of his own.
As such, he has not been driving all that often on Saturday night metro meetings, with his last winner being Starlight Sass, which he trained, on Saturday, March 29 last year.
Rogers couldn’t remember his last Saturday night win, and it was left to wife Rhonda, a chronicler of his career, to come up with Starlight Sass but it would take a lot more research to come up with his last metro double.
“To be honest, I didn’t even remember I was driving Feng Shui Star and Rhonda reminded me on Saturday morning,” Rogers said.
“I have been friends with David and Ingrid Smith for a very long time.”
Coming from gate one on the second row, Rogers settled three-back the fence on the six-year-old early in the Kingsford Hotel Pace (1800m).
When another driver decided to go forward going into the back straight, Rogers was able to ease off the inside and into clear racing room.
Feng Shui Star ($34) came quickly and went on to grab a 2-1/2 metre win from Star Man ($4.80) with Clarenden Legacy ($5.50), three metres away third.
Rogers picked up the drive on the Ingrid Smith-trained winner because regular driver David Smith was committed to Star Man which he partners for trainer John Conroy.
David Smith was able to relate an amusing story.
“I was sitting outside the lead on Star Man and confident he could prove hard to beat,” Smith said.
“Coming off the back, I was aware of a horse three wide and said to myself, I hope it drops off.
“But it didn’t and as we straightened I became aware it was Ingrid’s horse, so the pain of defeat resulted in mixed options.”
Feng Shui Star is owned by Jamie Braidwood and Chris Dix who have had an incredible week of success.
Their run started on Monday at Globe Derby Park when Sir Ed returned to the winning list. On Tuesday, talented trotter Ikigai won at Albion Park in Queensland.
On Wednesday, Rostova which they share ownership with Rod Howson, won easily at Redcliffe in Queensland.
Then on Saturday, apart from Feng Shui Star, Ikigai made it two wins in a week, scoring again at Albion Park.
Ikigai is among the nominations for the 2026 Ladbrokes Trotters Inter Dominion to be run at Albion Park in July.
Rogers brought up his double on Jawsofgoodtime for trainer Ross Collins in the Horse Queened Pace (1800m).
Pushing through from gate one, Rogers controlled the tempo and Jawsofgoodtime ($5) was able to win convincingly by 11 metres from Hugh Go ($14) with Neds Beach ($61), 2-1/2 metres away third.
In the heavy conditions, he let the mare run a 63.3 second first half of the last 1600 metres, before coming home in 60.4 seconds to win well.
Collins has done a great job with Jawsofgoodtime which has won three of her five starts this season.
Rogers said he had gone in believing the mare had a good winning chance.
“I drove her last week and thought she ran well, and from gate one, would give a great sight,” he said.
“Obviously, Sam Hill’s horse Ashante Prince ($1.85 fav) looked hard to beat after winning both his local runs, but coming from as back row, I knew he would have to run my mare down.”
Despite his return to the spotlight, Rogers said nothing would change going forward.
“I have three horses in work, and they are midweek grade, so I don’t see myself driving too often on Saturday nights.”
- story Graham Fischer
- photo Walter Bulyga