A pair of lightly-tried 3-year-olds can boost their classic prospects on their home track today.
The Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs-trained Endowment and Dragon Storm hold Group 1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby (2400m) nominations and both have benefited from patient approaches.
Endowment won on debut over 1200m last month andhe will again take on the older horses in the Interislander Summer Festival Ruakaka Handicap (1400m) on January 6.
"I think he's got a big future and we thought about taking him to Ellerslie, but he would have met a hot field there second-up," Logan said. "We're just taking quiet steps with him at this stage and the best of him will be seen when he gets up over more ground."
To be ridden again by Alysha Collett, the son of Savabeel is at $41 in the Derby market while stablemate Dragon Storm is at $101.
The latter has made an encouraging start to his career and Leith Innes will continue his association with the son of Shocking in the Support St John Bream Bay Maiden (2100m).
"He's been a slow learner, but I don't mind that," Logan said. "He's needed some time and he's improving now."
