Perky Notta Mocha salutes for Rogers

Albany trainer Roy Rogers continued his strong start to the new Great Southern season, recording a winning double at Percy Spencer Racecourse last Friday to take his tally to five.

At the third meeting of the local season, progressive types Notta Mocha and Ionyx both saluted in Rogers’ colours.

Notta Mocha overcame a wide draw to taste victory first-up from a spell, settling last for jockey Daniel Staeck before pouncing with a sharp turn of foot in the home straight.

The four-year-old gelding grabbed $2.50 favourite It Comes Natural nearing the line to win by a length in the Great Southern Supplies Handicap (1230m).

“He has been working the joint down,” Rogers said of Notta Mocha.

“He had 12 runs in one preparation, which is pretty good and he’s always showed plenty of ability.

“His record should be better than what it reads and he’ll only get better over more ground.”

Staeck and Rogers then made it a double when improving three-year-old Ionyx won the Furphy Handicap (1450m) despite drifting to the outside rail in the straight.

Well supported into a $1.60 favourite, Ionyx shot straight to the lead from barrier two and booted clear in the straight.

He laid outwards and drifted to the outside fence before knuckling down to beat Round The Point by ¾ of a length.

Rogers said the grey gelding, who had won two of eight career starts, was still very green.

“He’s a big baby and there is a lot of improvement left in him,” he said.

“We’ll just let him step up through his classes.”

Albany apprentice Shelby Colgate scored her first win on home turf, winning the last on Chengdu for trainer Gerry Hughes.

Chengdu charged home from eighth on the turn to down Queen Tori by half a length.

Meanwhile, at Ascot on Saturday, Count Kala was the best-performed Great Southern runner in the $100,000 TabTouch Regional Championship: The Road To Ascot final (1200m).

The Alan McNamara Jr-trained sprinter produced a strong finish to run fifth, beaten two lengths by the winner, Father Knick.

Dixie Solly’s Force Element ran 11th and Steve Wolfe’s Captivated Point was wide throughout and finished 13th.