Joanne Surgenor had plenty of success a couple of seasons ago with multiple Group Two winner Showoroses, and now she is set to unveil a close relative that she believes has just as much talent.
Showoroses was a standout for Surgenor, winning five of her 20 career starts, including the Gr.2 Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m), Gr.2 Rich Hill Mile and Gr.2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' Stakes (1600m), and also placed in the Gr.2 Eight Carat Classic (1600m), Gr.3 Bonecrusher Stakes (1400m), Cal Isuzu Stakes and Auckland Thororuhgbreds Breeders' Stakes.
She was subsequently sold at Magic Millions' 2022 Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale to Corumbene Stud for A$525,000, where she has commenced her career as a broodmare.
Surgenor has been hoping to find that talent once more, and believes she has in the form of Whiskey 'N Roses, a Belardo two-year-old gelding out of two-win mare Fullinbloom, a half-sister to Showoroses.
"He is from the same family as Showoroses and he has got that family trait about him – a little bit of toughness," Surgenor said.
"I have had him since he was a foal, so he has been here all of his life. He has got a bit of tenacity about him.
"He is very much like her (Showoroses), especially his personality. I trained his mother, Fullinbloom, as well, she was a nice filly but unfortunately she got injured in a storm and that is why her career ended. She was a nice type too."
Bred by Ashford Lodges' Peter and Sherin Walker, the couple own Whiskey 'N Roses in partnership with Haunui Farm, and Surgenor said they are excited to unveil his talent for the first time on raceday in Saturday's Listed TAB Star Way 1200 at Ellerslie.
"Peter and the family are absolutely thrilled to have him and have something out of the family that is showing something again," Surgeoner said.
Whiskey 'N Roses has made one public appearance to date, winning his 800m trial at Pukekohe last week by 2-1/4 lengths, and Surgeoner believes he is ready to be thrown into the deep end in stakes grade this weekend.
"He is very well, I am really pleased with him. He has come through his trial really well and all looks good at the moment," she said.
"He had a jumpout at his previous prep and he went quite well. We put him away and he has come back this time around twice the horse. I am absolutely thrilled with him.
"It is coming to the end of the season for two-year-olds and you have just got to chance your luck."
While looking forward to his debut outing on Saturday, Surgenor believes he will be better with time.
"I think he is going to be a lovely three-year-old," she said. "He won that trial and he has done it nicely, it is nice to get a race into them going forward into their three-year-old season. I think his future is more three and onwards."
