Horse Racing: Romancer putting Ellerslie disappointment to bed

Donna Logan's Romancer is looking to improve from his last outing at Ellerslie Racecourse. Photo / Trish Dunell

Donna Logan has sounded a warning to punters to ignore Romancer's last visit to Ellerslie.

She said his seventh placing in the Group 2 Great Northern Guineas on New Year's Day was no reflection of the three-year-old's ability.

"You can just forget that race. They walked in front when he got back and he over-raced and he had absolutely no hope from that position," said Logan, who trains in partnership with Chris Gibbs at Ruakaka.

"Fortunately, he came out of the race in good shape and he's super well now. He'll run in the Karaka Mile, and that's going to be a hot line-up, and then the Avondale Guineas on the way to the Derby."

Prior to the Great Northern Guineas, Romancer had won his two previous starts, including an impressive performance to claim the Listed Mufhasa Stakes.

He is currently at $21 in the Group 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby market with his stablemate Wyndspelle a $15 chance.

Despite not having won a race for nearly 12 months, Logan rates Wyndspelle up with the best of his age group.

"He's had a lot of bad draws and bad luck," she said. "He'll be right in the thick of it when things pan out in his favour."

Since he won at Te Rapa last February, Wyndspelle has placed at Group 1 and at Group 2 level and in Listed company.

At his latest appearance, the Iffraaj colt finished fifth from a wide gate in the Gr.1 Levin Classic.

- NZ Racing Desk