Hunter set to make Alice Springs return with Desert Lass
After celebrating the life of her late partner Ken Rogerson on Wednesday night, Alice Springs trainer Carrol Hunter is hoping for success at Pioneer Park on Saturday.
Desert Lass, a seven-year-old mare, lines up in the Alice Springs Turf Club’s feature race – an open handicap over 1200m – which features last year’s Pioneer Sprint winner, Supreme Attraction.
The daughter of Rock Hero, who has had success over 1200m in the past, returns after a five-month spell and might find her rivals too speedy.
However, Desert Lass is renowned for her competitiveness, unpredictability and versatility.
After finishing sixth in the Darwin Cup (2050m) last August, the mare won at Pioneer Park three weeks later over 1400m (BM66) before finishing a narrow second in open company over 1400m in late September.
Rogerson, who hails from New Zealand, made a serious impact in Victoria before relocating to the Red Centre in 1993.
He won seven races as the trainer of What A Nuisance before the horse moved to the Joh Meagher stable, going on to win the 1985 Melbourne Cup.
Champion NT sprinter The Soldier, who regularly carried big weights to victory in the NT and was victorious over 1000m at Flemington in December 2011, was also trained by Rogerson.
Rogerson, 78, passed away from a long illness on January 20 having retired from training in 2021.
During the week, the NT racing fraternity and friends gathered at Pioneer Park to celebrate Rogerson’s life.
“I’ve been in touch with Carrol quite a bit lately, she seems positive, and it’s great she will have a runner on Saturday,” fellow Alice Springs trainer Greg Connor said.
“On Wednesday night, we had a function at the Turf Club in honour of Ken.
“Huge numbers attended and there were some interesting stories throughout the night.
“There were a lot of people who came down from Darwin and a few visitors from down south.
“It was a good night, a positive night – it was all about Ken.
“When Lisa Whittle moved back to South Australia last year, Carrol finished up with Desert Lass.
“She’s had a great run with it – two wins, four seconds and a third from 11 starts.
“The mare has gone well in Alice and has also raced well in Darwin — it handles both tracks.
“(She’s) a good horse for around here with the 1400m and mile races, she’s more than competitive.”
ASTC chairman Andrew Maloney also agreed that it will be good to see Hunter start Desert Lass this weekend.
“We had Ken’s wake on Wednesday night, it was a good send off,” he said.
“A number of people such as Gary Clarke, Garry Lefoe and Wayne Davis all came down from Darwin, which was good to see.
“Lot of funny stories and very much a celebration of Ken’s life.
“Carrol was in good spirits, but of course she misses him.
“It will be exciting for Carrol to have Desert Lass step out again.
“She’s not too bad first up, but she’ll obviously improve no matter what she does on Saturday.
“I would imagine that her destiny would end up being the Cup once again on April 7.”