Racing: Logan seeks notable double

Rising Romance, with Tony Sneddon up, prepares for the TV3 NZ Derby tomorrow in a workout at Ruakaka. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Donna Logan went into last year's NZ Derby with Habibi extremely confident and she was right.

She says she's just as relaxed as last year as she produces Rising Romance into tomorrow's classic, but for one horse - the favourite Puccini.

The Ruakaka trainer believes Puccini could be something a bit special.

As much as she has faith in Rising Romance, she has just as much for the favourite.

"He's my only worry, and it's a big worry," says Logan. "He's related to Sir Slick and he's just that type of horse, leave him alone in front and you'll have all sorts of trouble picking him up.

"Also, like Sir Slick, he's the type to get better and better. The harder you go at him, the more he'll give."

Logan and her training partner Dean have brought Rising Romance along with beautiful timing for this Derby. The filly's lead-up mimics Habibi's trail into last year's Derby and the parallel does not end there.

"The duplications between the two horses are scary," says Logan. "Last year at the barrier draw Habibi came up with the tote number of 16 and when the barrier draw was done she came out with gate No 1.

"This time Rising Romance was also No 16 and when they were doing the barriers I thought 'don't tell me!' and sure enough, she drew No 1. A shiver went up my spine."

Rising Romance looked fabulous winning the Royal Stakes at Ellerslie on January 1 then Donna Logan declared the filly could be one race short of full fitness going into the Avondale Guineas, in which Rising Romance chased Puccini hard and ran him to 1.1 lengths second. She is at full fitness for this.

"I love my filly and I really rate her, but that other horse [Puccini] really worries me. He's not just your average front runner, he's a lot better than that.

"I'd love to see something take him on in front, but I can't see that happening."

Trainer Shaun Ritchie believes Glorious Lad has improved two lengths since his third to Puccini and Rising Romance in the Avondale Guineas.

"But let's face it, he needs to have improved to have any chance of beating that other pair this time."

In an effort to turn things around, Ritchie has added side winkers to Glorious Lad.

"I don't think adding blinkers is a good idea going into a 2400m race, so we've put the winkers on him which will give him more focus without stirring him up like blinkers would."

Ritchie says he needs every bit of help to get closer to the two favourites this time. "Watching the replays of the Avondale Guineas it's clear that Rising Romance glided around the home turn very professionally and Glorious Lad rolled around. As a result she put a length on us that we couldn't pull back.

"Maybe we're grasping, but unless we changed something we were just going to go around and finish a nice third to the others again."

Ritchie said the most pleasing aspect is that Glorious Lad has had a no-fuss preparation.

"He'll get a cheque, I'm just not sure how big it will be."

Mike Dillon's Derby tips

1 Rising Romance
2 Puccini
3 Glorious Lad
4 Habitual Offender
5 Spellbinder
Best roughie
* Habitual Offender $31.