Baby chases Ruakaka bonus

The Cydne Evans-trained Kahala will return to the Whangarei Racing Club tomorrow  for the second leg of the Westbury Stud Triple Crown Point Series for 2-year-olds when the club hosts its second meeting of the 2010/2011 season.
 No horse has yet managed to win all three events in the series which is now in its fifth year. Jazzella came the closest in the inaugural series in 2006 by winning the first two legs and placing third in the final.
The Pukekohe Park-based Kahala won the first leg at Ruakaka last month, in her first race-day start, and is aiming for the double tomorrow  in race five (1.18pm) of the 10-race programme.
It won't be an easy ask for the filly with a step up in distance to 1200m and a capacity field all with an eye on the series and associated bonuses.
Local hopes in the field include  four trained by the Logan and Gibbs partnership: Shamabelle. Mygoodgrace, Babarbara Ann and Betsy Ross.
"Shamabelle has strong raceday form and is dropping back from listed company but does have a horror draw to overcome," Donna Logan said.
"Mygoodgrace has shown plenty of promise winning her trials to date and she is forward enough to go but, as always, a lack of raceday experience is the concern.

 "Babarbara Ann is a half sister to Carrie Ann, who ran third in this race last year but, again, she also lacks raceday experience.
"Betsy Ross is another first starter who has shown ability at the trials but she, too, will be better with the  experience."
However, the main aim of the 2-year olds will be the listed Westbury Stud Northland Breeders Stakes with a stake of $45,000 to be run on July 17, also at the Whangarei Racing Club.
"To win a black type race as a 2-year old can add so much value to the family - as well as increasing the value of the winner itself," Logan said.
The other feature of tomorrow's  racing is the running of the Bob Tait Memorial Cup (race eight at 3.05pm). The Tait family donated the cup in 2008 to be contested annually in memory of Bob Tait, who was a long-standing member, past president and patron of the  club.
Son Blyth Tait, better known for his equestrian successes, is a trainer at Byerley Park, Karaka, and is part-owner in High Drama, who is racing in the cup.
Logan and Gibbs also have several entries in the cup.
"Last Blast loves the track. He has had little luck since his fresh-up win at Avondale and we would expect a bold showing," she said.
"Montillini's last-start failure should be forgiven on a sticky track at Ellerslie and we think he should go a cheeky race."
Race one at  Ruakaka starts at 11.08am.