New Zealand shuttler Rip Van Winkle was represented by his first Australasian winner at Tauherenikau on Thursday.

Magic Dancer (2f Rip Van Winkle – Dazzling Belle by Desert Sun) was dominant in the NZB Insurance Pearl Series 2YO Stakes (1000m) on debut for trainers Graeme and Debbie Rogerson.  She was a $90,000 buy from Monovale Farm at this year’s Karaka Premier Sale.

Her dam was a dual stakes winner on the South Island and the best of her six winners to date has been G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes runner-up Manten (Encosta de Lago).

Rip Van Winkle (Ire) shuttles from Coolmore Stud’s Irish headquarters to Windsor Park.  He has been a hit in Europe with Dick Whittington successful in the G1 Curragh Phoenix Stakes and I Am Beautiful a winner of the G3 Grangecon Stud Stakes.

Rip Van Winkle (Galileo) was rated the highest 3YO Turf Miler in the world in 2009 following Group 1 victories in the Sussex Stakes and Queen Elizabeth ll Stakes.

Further Group 1 success came in 2010 when he was rated the best 4YO Turf Miler on the World Thoroughbred rankings.  He was also ranked equal-best Turf Intermediate racehorse with champion NZ-bred galloper So You Think.

Rip Van Winkle is fully booked this season at Windsor Park.