Great Southern Racing Awards: Remarkable season with 46 victories guides Rogers to maiden trainers title

A remarkable season for Albany’s Roy Rogers ended with his drought-breaking victory in the Great Southern trainer of the year award. Rogers claimed the award for the first time, with a whopping 46 winners, and in the process stopped main rival Steve Wolfe’s brilliant run of titles. Wolfe had won 23 of the last 27 premierships but he was no match for Rogers’ career-best season in 2020-21. From his 218 runners in the region, Rogers had 46 winners as he claimed the major award for the first time. Rogers had a career-best day on January 10, saddling up six winners, which included a win in the Fitzpatrick Plate, and there were only two meetings in which he did not train a winner. To go with his incredible feat of six winners on one card, Rogers trained five winners on another card, and twice finished with four victories on the same day to go with five trebles. “Wolfey has been hard to catch over the past five years but I feel I’ve got the right staff and stock now to be an A-grade operation,” the 52-year-old said. “I think the difference this season is the setting up of my property. “It has taken a few years to get used to the track and heavy sand while building enough yards to get more stock in. “I think I have already had eight winners in town, which is a career best already. “I never had a group winner and now I have two group victories this season, so that’s an achievement in itself. “I have the utmost respect for Steve Wolfe — I admire his resilience and what he has been able to achieve over the past 30 years.” After moving to Albany in November 2014, Rogers has expanded his stable from about 15 horses to between 40 and 45. “I’m lucky to be surrounded by such good people, and I have built that up over 30 years, not just overnight,” he said. “And the respect for me is growing now. “Six winners in a day on Fitzpatrick Plate (day) was a major highlight along with a second in the Albany Cup and third in the Jericho Cup qualifier.” Rogers has produced 58 winners in WA this season, including his first group success with promising two-year-old Hoi An. Trainer of the year Roy Rogers — 46 wins Steve Wolfe — 27 Adam Durrant — 9 Gerry Hughes — 5 Paul Hunter — 4 Helen Harding — 4