Racing: Jockey eases Logan's fears

Hauraki, who finished brilliantly to win the Tulloch Stakes last Saturday, will be a top ride for James McDonald in the Derby. Photo / Getty Images

A phone call from one of the superstars of world racing eased some of trainer Donna Logan's concerns heading into Saturday's A$2 million Australian Derby with Volkstock'n'Barrell.

Logan hadn't been enjoying reports out of Sydney suggesting the Randwick surface was nearing heavy at yesterday's trackwork session, even though it has been officially listed as a soft (5).

While Volkstock'n'Barrell has won on a soft track, his natural speed is better suited to a track that provides more spring. Testing conditions for the Derby could make the 2400m feel closer to 2600m, perhaps outside his stamina range.

"So the better the track, the happier we are going to be," Logan told the Herald yesterday.

Enter wonder jockey Craig Williams, who dialled Logan not once but twice yesterday to put a smile on her face.

"Craig galloped him this morning and rang me straight afterwards to say he handled it no problem

"That made me feel a lot better and with showers only forecast for the remainder of the week it shouldn't get much worse.

"Of course, we are hoping it goes the other way and improves. The drier the better for us, whereas if it turns into more of a slog that probably suits Mongolian Khan more."

Just to really perk Logan up, Williams rang back as soon as he heard Volkstock'n'Barrell had drawn five in the Derby, with Mongolian Khan at one and joint favourite Preferment in the outside barrier of the 10 starters.

"Craig was so excited by that he rang back. He thinks five is the perfect barrier.

"I have been back home for a few days and head back to Sydney tomorrow till after the Sydney Cup, so having Craig there and on the case is like having a second trainer."

The Sydney Cup is still on the agenda for stablemate Rising Romance, who was forced out of last Saturday's BMW by a slight hoof issue.

"She has come through that now and she galloped well with Volkstock'n'Barrell so we are looking at the Chairman's with her this Saturday.

"That is plan A but it could change if it gets too wet because of her weight.

"So she could go Chairman's and then the Sydney Cup, or if we miss this Saturday the Queen Elizabeth on Saturday week comes into play."

Volkstock'n'Barrell is at $4.20 with the New Zealand TAB and Mongolian Khan at $6.50, whereas the Australian TAB has the Kiwi pair at $4.60 and $8 respectively.

Preferment shares the $3.60 favouritism with Hauraki, who was outstanding winning the Tulloch Stakes at Rosehill last Saturday and has been the huge mover in the Derby market.

He will be ridden by James McDonald, who put on a clinic winning five races at Rosehill and has helped John O'Shea turn the blue colours of Godolphin into the most feared of this carnival.

Hauraki has barrier nine in the Derby, which with the small field and the finishing kick he showed last Saturday shouldn't be a concern, but McDonald faces a far trickier wide draw two races later in the A$3 million Doncaster.

He rides Japanese raider Real Impact, who was so powerful winning the George Ryder last start but is likely to start from barrier 18 after emergencies come out of the Doncaster. Kiwi trained or part-owned stars Puccini (17) and Sacred Falls (20) have also drawn wide.