Fire performance music to the ears of Andrew Rogers

By Jordan Gerrans

After many years of working in the surgical and rehabilitation space of a horses’ life, Queensland horseman Andrew Rogers was inspired to take on a new challenge in the racing industry.

The 34-year-old has been deeply involved in various roles in the sport throughout his life and famously was on the journey as a part-owner and breeder of former cult hero Spurcraft.

The Lockyer Valley-based Rogers recently took out his own trainers’ licence and grabbed his maiden victory at just his second starter.

Big gelding Reggae Fire was Rogers’ first starter in a race last month and it was the four-year-old bay who presented the rookie trainer his breakthrough triumph at Gatton on Tuesday afternoon.

Not far from the Lockyer Valley Turf Club race track is where Rogers was spurred on to step into the training ranks.

He was working at the University of Queensland Gatton campus as a barn foreman for around four years in the equine specialist area of the hospital.

Rogers managed all the in and outpatient operations at the facility as well as helping surgeons and the general day-to-day operations and maintenance on horses.

“I learnt a hell of a lot about horses in general and little things you can do to fix little problems along the way,” he reflects.

“I developed a great relationship with a lot of the specialists there.

“As anybody in the racing industry knows, you just never stop learning about these horses and the more you can further your education – the better you will be.”

On the back of his employment at the University of Queensland, Rogers purchased 33 acres in the Lockyer Valley and created his own spelling and rehabilitation business that is now named ‘Lux’.

“Once I had my spelling and rehabilitation business set up and established, I realized that I had all the facilities to take my own licence out,” Rogers said.

“It has always been one of those things that I wanted to train a winner on my own ticket as I have been involved in the racing industry since I was nine years of age.

“To train a winner on your own, I was focused on the little things to make sure the horse was sound and happy and they sort of do the rest.”

Reggae Fire is raced by Rogers’ parents Noel and Susan.

The son of I Am Invincible was previously prepared by Chris Waller and broke his maiden status at Ipswich in late July.

Since being moved on by Waller’s connections, Rogers gave the galloper his first start for his stable at Doomben in the middle of last month where rider James Orman told the rookie conditioner that the run was full of merit.

The Rogers camp engaged another tall hoop in Justin Huxtable for Tuesday’s Ratings Band 0 - 62 Handicap over 1400 metres and the gelding delivered brilliantly. 

Brisbane’s premier rider Orman rode the Rogers-bred Spurcraft at times during his career.

Following the Doomben run, Orman and Rogers devised a plan for the gelding’s next assignment and the trainer says Huxtable executed it perfectly.

Huxtable travelled sweetly behind the leader and produced the gelding when it mattered and he did the rest to score by half a length.

“I was quietly confident going into the race as I had only had the horse for a week prior to that first run at Doomben,” Rogers said.

“I was probably a bit soft on him prior to his first run for me as he is a big, strong I Am Invincible gelding that thrives on his work.

“James thought he was on the winner on the turn but the horse just peaked on his run and got tired.

“After that race, he had a good blow and I learnt a lot about the horse after that one run and I knew he was going to take benefit from it.

“I knew from there that I needed to put plenty of work into him and to not be soft in between runs.

“Leading into Gatton, I thought Justin Huxtable would give him a good ride and he produced him at the right time.”

As Rogers was hands-on with Spurcraft throughout his 10-race winning career, many in the industry suggested he should prepare his own team at some stage.

The Rogers family have also had gallopers with Darling Downs trainers Matt Kropp and Lindsay Hatch over the years.

The Rogers' bred Spurcraft who was born at the family property at Pittsworth, near Toowoomba.

With the facilities needed to run a spelling and rehabilitation business, the keen horseman quickly realized he also could use them to train in his own right.

“After learning as much as I did at the university, it inspired me to start a spelling and rehabilitation business,” he said.

“We have got a treadmill there that we do a lot of work with as well as post-operative care with horses that have required different surgeries.

“We manage the acute period post-operatively which is where things can go south pretty quickly if not maintained correctly.

“We do those things that minimize risk and takes a lot of stress off people when they do have to take their horses in for surgeries. We send the horses back to the people that own or train them and they can then commence their plan with the horse.

“With the treadmill, we can reintroduce the exercise plan for a horse to make sure everything is going to plan.”

Known for his blistering speed, Spurcraft retired in June of 2021 with a Listed Bribie Handicap his greatest honour on a race track.

Despite being long retired, Spurcraft has recently transferred into the care of Rogers.

Now 11 years of age, Spurcraft retired sound and has been in light work in recent times as the owner and breeder considers bringing him back out of retirement.

Rogers will go searching for his second victory of his career at Ipswich Turf Club on Thursday when Star Of Kings and Huxtable start in the Class 3 Handicap over 800 metres.