Rogan rewarded with first winner at Wanganui
Jess de Lautour • June 1st, 2025 2:30 PM
A lifelong ambition was fulfilled for Jordan Rogan at Wanganui on Saturday, when the young New Plymouth trainer prepared his first winner in Snipsnap.
Having worked in both the harness and galloping codes, Rogan had been immersed in the racing industry for a number of years before being gifted Snipsnap, a son of Vadamos who had trialled once in the care of Hunterville horsewoman Lydia Pickford.
Pickford indicated that the horse would require plenty of time, and after underperforming in his first four starts, Rogan gave the gelding over 18 months away from the races.
Returning in a fresh state, Snipsnap was the rank outsider at $78 in the Sound Electrical Maiden (1340m), but got away positively under Mereana Hudson and raced on-speed to the home turn. Snipsnap had the odds-on favourite Atkins hot on his heels on straightening, but after fending off Just A Nudge to his inside, the gelding kicked clear in the final bounds to score over a late-closing Waft.
Rogan was rapt with the performance, a big reward after exercising plenty of patience with the five-year-old.
“It was a day I’ll never forget,” he said.
“It was especially good to do it with a horse like him, we’ve given him a year and a half off, so to get him back to the races and winning first-up is pretty cool.
“He was the first horse I started under my own name, I’ve worked in the harness code as well and had a winner as an owner, and then this horse was given to me by Lydia Pickford. She thought he just needed a bit of time and I gave him a few runs a couple of years ago, and as I said on TV, I think on average he was beaten 21 lengths.
“He just needed more time and luckily, I had the patience to do it.”
Bred by Daniel and Elias Nahkle, Snipsnap is out of a Perfectly Ready mare Ready Steady, who won five races and placed at stakes level as a three-year-old. Four of Ready Steady’s victories came on a good track, and Rogan suspects his charge may not be looking for much worse than Saturday’s Heavy8 surface.
“He’s been a bit deceiving, but yesterday wasn’t too wet and I don’t think he’ll cop a really heavy track so we’ll just have to see and play it by ear,” he said.
“I think he could get a mile, Mereana was pretty happy with him and said he won without really letting down yesterday. I don’t really know what I’ve got, hopefully something better than a maiden anyway.”
Originally from the Manawatu, Rogan grew up watching the races with his father and still follows the harness, while plying his trade in the thoroughbred code.
“I’m born and bred in Palmerston North, and my Dad was always very interested in racing and watching it on TV,” he said. “If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be in racing.
“I helped in a couple of stables in Palmy then for a couple of people up north, I’ve always loved both codes. I’ve strapped at the races for a couple of different trainers and always give anyone a hand, it’s been good to do both and I still keep up with who is winning in the harness up north as well.
Rogan is now based out of John Wheeler’s stable in the Taranaki region, where he and his partner, apprentice jockey Elle Sole, have a couple of young horses coming through.
“I wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing without John Wheeler, I train my horses out of his stable and work for him,” he said. “I have the use of the track and walker, so that’s a big help.
“I just have the one racehorse at the moment, but I’m breaking three in and have a broodmare in foal, so it’s starting to get up there a bit. I’m enjoying doing the breakers with my partner and having a nice, select number at the moment.
“In the future, I’d like to be able to get to something a bit bigger, but I’m happy with where I’m at right now.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
