Rogers stable raises the bat on multiple fronts

By Jordan Gerrans

Cricketers raise their bat once they have reached 50 runs and at Cunnamulla’s Anzac Day race meeting, the Rogers stable had multiple reasons to celebrate a half-century.

With long-time maiden galloper The Uprising claiming the second event on the non-TAB program, it started a run of celebrations for the bush racing clan.

The Uprising is trained and ridden by Roma’s Cheryl Rogers with her husband Stuart the major owner alongside Jarrod and Matthew Rogers, who also have shares in the galloper.

After a career of bad luck but persistent efforts over the years, The Uprising won his first race at his 50^th attempt on Friday of last week.

The five-year-old gelding is a stable favourite for the Rogers’ and despite his lack of ability, the family have stuck by him and he finally delivered the team a deserved victory.

Cheryl is dual licensed as a trainer and jockey, with The Uprising’s win on Friday being her 50^th since taking out her own training ticket.

The hard-working regional Queensland participant not long ago ticked past the milestone of being 50 years of age, as well.

It is fair to say the Rogers crew celebrated proudly after the win in the Maiden Plate over 1200 metres.

The son of Sizzling has been in the Rogers’ care since June of 2023 and despite going 49 attempts without breaking through, the stable never considered retiring him as he is so loved and is known for his effort and determination.

“He has no idea what he is doing but we have never had a horse that has tried as much as him,” Stuart said of The Uprising.

“He has no ability at all but he has the biggest heart, he tries so hard in his gallops and when he is walking.

“He is only a little horse but we all love him. There is nothing of him, he is just 15 hands – but he just tries so hard.

“He is the family horse and everyone has a soft spot for him. We are very kind to our horses and look after them.”

The Uprising is known as ‘Mouse’ around the Rogers’ Roma barn.

Cheryl has ridden almost 200 winners as a jockey in her career which dates back around three decades.

Her time in the racing industry has been halted on several occasions due to serious medical problems.

As Stuart notes, the 50 victories as a trainer is a special milestone for the family seeing as many of those victories have come following Cheryl’s setbacks.

She underwent a kidney transplant two years ago after beating bowel cancer five years prior.

To still be riding is an amazing achievement but to notch 50 training victories, Stuart says it is a nod to her willpower.

“She is an amazing woman,” he said.

“We are very lucky, me and my sons, she is a very good wife. She looks after us all and is brilliant.

“With everything that Cheryl has been through, racing has given us so much and it is a family thing, everyone is involved from my kids to my grandchildren.”

Regional racing broadcaster Brett Moody made special mention of Cheryl’s achievements in his call of last week’s victory.

“It is celebration time,” Moody said

“I thought all the stars were going to align for this horse.

“This was going to happen for sure – it only just happened as The Uprising just got there on the outside to bring up Cheryl Rogers’ 50th winner as a trainer.”

Despite drawing barrier one at Cunnamulla, Cheryl took her gelding wide in the running as she was keen to avoid any traffic in the run.

The stable thought they had broken through at Blackall two starts back but were just denied a victory in a close finish.

The Uprising had placed on 13 occasions before finally breaking through on Friday.

The Rogers’ are considering heading to Burrandowan next month for the Class B Handicap over 1050 metres as their treasured gelding chases the second win of his career.

“He is good to do anything with, but he walks around like he is the greatest racehorse in the world,” Stuart said of The Uprising. 

“But, he is not. He will carry on and things like that on race mornings.

“That is just him, that is the way he is. Cheryl rides him in his work, he swims and goes in the walker, but he has to go out in his yard every day. He loves his yard.”

The Rogers’ have five in work at Roma.