Meet the 16-year-old rookie trainer aiming for Group 1 glory

Most racing-mad 16-year-olds might still be dreaming of making it in life as a jockey.

But for Bailey Rogerson – who already has two wins to her name this year as an amateur rider – life and racing ambition is moving a little faster than that.

Rogerson has been granted a training licence by the New Zealand authorities, a move which they believe makes her the youngest professional trainer in world racing.

Bailey will join her grandparents, Graham and Debbie, in a partnership to be known as Team Rogerson, a licensing arrangement that is relatively commonplace in Australasia and becoming more popular in France, but which is yet to take hold in Britain and Ireland.

Rogerson said: "I'm absolutely thrilled. It's indescribable really. I've always been involved with the horses so it seemed inevitable it would go this way. Being involved as an amateur rider and as a trainer is a win-win situation for me."

Group 1 first for Bailey

The new partnership's first runners will be at Ellerslie on New Year's Day and will include Ferrando, who is due to line up in the Group 1 Sistema Railway Stakes following an impressive win at Te Rapa last Saturday.

"We think he's a Group 1 horse," said Bailey Rogerson. "He won well the other day and he's come through it well. I ride him in all his work at home and I think he has a genuine winning chance in the Railway."

Graham Rogerson has more than 5,000 career winners to his name, making him New Zealand's most successful trainer.

Asked how he viewed having Bailey officially recognised as part of the training team, he said: "I'm really looking forward to it. She's a natural and she works hard. Her knowledge is well beyond her years.

"She's been involved all her life and she rides trackwork and all the trials, and she's currently the leading amateur rider this season. She'll fly."

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