By nature, reinsman Ken Rogers is media-shy. He prefers to let his on-track successes tell his story.
On Saturday night, Rogers, 28, will have his first drive in South Australia’s premier race, the Group 1 $100,000 Ubet South Australian Pacing Cup (2230m).
He will partner in-form pacer Some Kinda Tactics, trained by Jon Kingston-Mayne. Unfortunately, the barrier draw hasn’t been kind and the eight-year-old gelding has drawn gate seven.
The amazing aspect is that Rogers only returned to race driving in November last year after a 15-month stint on the sidelines through suspension and disqualification for drug offences.
“You don’t know what you’ve got until it is taken away from you,” Rogers said.
“I love harness racing, and I missed it so much.
“There is nothing better than getting up each morning and working with the horses, and driving in races.”
Rogers said he was delighted when Kingston-Mayne made the call and asked him to drive Some Kinda Tactics during December – the result has been three drives for three wins, the most recent at Globe Derby Park last Saturday night.
“I drove horses for Jon before my disqualification and thank him for giving me opportunities again, and Some Kinda Tactics is a great horse to be asked to drive.
“Aaron Brown has also been a great supporter and gave me my first winner back, Downtools at my fifth drive.
“Obviously the cup is going to be a very tough race to win and the draw hasn’t helped,” he said.
“But he is a versatile pacer so I’ll be looking to try and get a good spot early then put him into the race over the final stages.
“I really believe he is racing well and running times which say he can prove competitive with luck in running.”
Rogers, son of Rhonda and Greg Rogers, was a rising star of South Australian harness racing.
Despite his tender years he finished sixth on the SA premiership in 2010/2011 and 2011/12 seasons with 54 and 61 winners respectively. Then in 2012/13 and 2013/14 he was seventh with 52 and 45 winners respectively.
It was then he fell foul of officialdom through unsavoury off-course antics, an issue he has vowed has taught him a valuable lesson.
For Kingston-Mayne, he knows what is required to win a Pacing Cup because he has come close several times.
In 2010 he trained Longtan Safari which finished fourth, then in 2011 and 2012 he started Ohoka Nevada which finished third to second to the champ Smoken Up.
In 2012 Kingston-Mayne also started Cullens Legacy which finished ninth with Greg Rogers aboard so no doubt family pride will see Ken wanting to achieve a better finishing position than his dad.
Cullens Legacy now stands at Claire Goble and Dennis Lyle’s Clarenden Park Stud at Wasleys and from limited runners has made a spectacular impression.
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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