Racing: Jazzella's triple crown quest steps up a gear at Ruakaka

If you are planning to bet against Jazzella's triple crown chase at Ruakaka today stop reading now.

Co-trainer Donna Logan is adamant that the flying filly has improved so much since her impressive first leg win there on May 31 that it's scary.

"I haven't pushed the button excessively but she's got a lot more work into her this time," says Logan.

"She's tightened up quite a lot since her last run. We didn't have her wound up for that - she's a bit more on target for this."

When you factor in how well an underdone Jazzella won on her home track last time out, you can understand why her owners never really seriously considered a recent Singapore offer to sell.

Win today, as most will expect, and they only have the $60,000 Northland Breeders at Ruakaka on July 15 in the way of a $100,000 Triple Crown payday, courtesy of the Whangarei Racing Club.

"We had this series in mind from the start," says Logan.

"When we trialled her she showed tremendous ability but we didn't want to rush her too early.

"This series is the perfect build-up for early spring racing."

Logan is not one to make rash statements

But she already rates Jazzella a potential successor to her champion 2-year-old Good Faith, Australasia's top-rated filly in the 1996-1997 season.

"She's got tremendous gate speed - I've not had one like her for a long time. She's actually not a lot unlike Good Faith.

"But I don't think we've ever had one that jumped out of the hat and said 'here I am' so early on."

Logan expects Jazzella to lead again from the jump today for rider Catherine Treymane.

The extra 200m won't be an issue for the Black Minnaloushe speedster.

But Logan feels it's still too early to say whether she has on her hands another New Zealand Oaks winner like former stable star Vapour Trail.

"She's yet to clarify just how far she'll go in distance," said Logan.

"I feel she will get further but at present I just don't know."

Logan, however, can confidently label Jazzella the best bet from a team punters always need to watch closely on their home track.

Mistral Wind (race six) and Grand Marnier (race 10) are the pick of the rest.

Logan said Mistral Wind simply had too much ground to make up last time out on the course last month.

Treymane won't make that same mistake.

Course specialist Grand Marnier turned in a huge effort fresh-up that same day and Logan is confident he's now ready to strike over his pet trip of 1400m.

Meanwhile, training partner Dean Logan puts the Brisbane polish on the stable's big Queensland chances this Saturday, Ring of Fire in the Tattersall's Cup and Focal Point in the Winter Stakes.

Donna Logan, who will join him this weekend, accompanies El Perez to Melbourne for two staying assignments at Flemington in early July.