Generally unsung heroes, like Jeremy Rogers, a major cog in the Darren Weir phenomenon, don't make the turf hit parade. However, modern racing favours equine conveyor belts replacing the hand tailored horse, with no lack of quality with the finished item. The buck still ends with the trainer but the supports have taken on a vital role, considerably more so than those former assistants to the greats.
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Harry Lime was a behind-the-scenes contributor to Lindsay Park, the massive stud and stable operation established by Colin Hayes; Trevor Lobb, a major player for the Ingham brothers, Big Jack and Bob's Woodlands Stud; and Bill Charles, working under the instruction of the The Master, Bart Cummings. Also the expertise of Les Young was employed by the syndicate formed by Bob Lapointe that enabled Brian Mayfield Smith to beat Tommy Smith in the Sydney Trainer's Premiership.
But none dealt with the numbers like Rogers, racing manager for "Weiry", given credit for programming more than 2500 horses Australia-wide. He received two gongs recently: the 2017 Godolphin Thoroughbred Excellence Award but the Dedication to Racing Award.
Earlier this week "Weiry" gained his 400th winner (questioned by some because of a couple of dead heats) for the record-breaking season following last season when he topped the Commonwealth record of John Hawkes (348). Cynics will say only a couple were notched in Sydney but placing horses to advantage is the key.
"Jeremy is the backbone of our racing operation," the leading trainer decreed in his nomination of Rogers for the Godolphins.
"His role is high pressure with the number of runners we have but he does it extremely well and has had a huge impact on my business, exactly what I needed to help my business grow.
"His goal for me when he started in 2010 was to help me win the Victorian Trainer's Premiership and we did that within three years. He's a superstar." Apart from the nominations, finding the best targets, Rogers is a member of the bloodstock team, inspecting yearlings and potential purchases. His input was involved with the Weir-prepared Melbourne Cup winner Prince of Penzance, given prominence at the presentation ceremony.
"John Foote [the Weir bloodstock advisor] bought him," Rogers recalled." Darren rang me up and asked what I thought of him from an inspection before the sale. 'Lovely walker, strong pasterns' I replied. Darren said 'John just bought him'." Rogers returned from working at Waikato in New Zealand on the recommendation of Merrick Staunton, the yearling connoisseur.
"I was talking at the Easter sales to Merrick and said I hoped to move back to Australia. Anyway that night Merrick talked to Weiry who said tell him to come home," he related. Rogers is very much a part of the "Weiry" yearling purchase operation. "John Foote looks at everything, I'll look at the horses he likes and Darren makes the final decision. I like a good walker, good temperament, and nice, big arse," he enthused.
"Darren supports the staying horses. A backside isn't paramount to him," he said. But Rogers follows the Staunton philosophy with yearlings.
Regarding "Weiry", Rogers stressed: "He is an absolute freak. Uncanny with the eye and memory for detail. He knows every single horse where they are at, what's been wrong with them." The Rogers pedigree reads strong on both sides being by Graham Rogers, in Adelaide a racing writer who worked under Kevin Sattler, a mate who preceded me on The Sun in Sydney.
And his mother Jodi is a strong influence. "I've had cerebral palsy down my right side," Rogers said. "Mum told me when it was diagnosed they said I should go to an institution. 'No', she said. I played sport but one day complained 'I can't do that with my hands'. Gave me a hit across the bum. Never use that as an excuse."
And "Weiry" was the winner.
