Valley Girl
Trish Dunell
The smile that kiwi trainer Donna Logan sported after racing at Rosehill on the weekend suggests she knows another prestigious Australian Group One prize is within her grasp again in less than a fortnight.
Logan was reacting to the performance of Mastercraftsman filly Valley Girl who provided the perfect Australian Oaks lead-up performance when she powered home for second in Saturday's Gr. 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
"She went a superb race on Saturday and with the natural improvement she will take from the run I couldn't be happier leading into the Oaks," she said.
"We had given her an easy time after her New Zealand Derby effort and although I expected her to be competitive I did know she would take plenty of benefit from Saturday.
"She raced a little handier than I expected as I had said to Brett (Prebble) to see if he could settle her three or four back and off the fence. He said she bounded out of the gates and crossed over easily so he let her nestle into the trail and she trucked along beautifully after that.
"He said she really extended in the last 100 metres and if she could have had a good sight of the eventual winner instead of being blinded a little by the filly on her outside it might have even been closer at the line."
As pleased as she was with Valley Girl's performance Logan also admitted her superstitions around winning the Oaks were also appeased by the run.
"It may sound a little funny but each time we have done well in the Oaks our filly has run in the first four in this race," she laughed.
"Habibi finished third then fourth in the Oaks while Rising Romance was fourth to Lucia Valentina before she came out and won.
"Hopefully we can keep that trend going with this filly."
Logan will now turn her attention to Saturday's $3m Gr. 1 Doncaster Handicap where multiple Group One winner Volkstok'n'barrell will tackle a line-up of superstars including the darling of Australian racing, Winx.
"He couldn't be better leading into the race but it will be a very big ask, especially with the likes of Winx in the race," she said.
"I doubt whether he will ever get to carry 52.5kgs in a race ever again so we've got take our chances as you don't get a prize for sitting at home." – NZ Racing Desk
Logan was reacting to the performance of Mastercraftsman filly Valley Girl who provided the perfect Australian Oaks lead-up performance when she powered home for second in Saturday's Gr. 1 Vinery Stud Stakes.
"She went a superb race on Saturday and with the natural improvement she will take from the run I couldn't be happier leading into the Oaks," she said.
"We had given her an easy time after her New Zealand Derby effort and although I expected her to be competitive I did know she would take plenty of benefit from Saturday.
"She raced a little handier than I expected as I had said to Brett (Prebble) to see if he could settle her three or four back and off the fence. He said she bounded out of the gates and crossed over easily so he let her nestle into the trail and she trucked along beautifully after that.
"He said she really extended in the last 100 metres and if she could have had a good sight of the eventual winner instead of being blinded a little by the filly on her outside it might have even been closer at the line."
As pleased as she was with Valley Girl's performance Logan also admitted her superstitions around winning the Oaks were also appeased by the run.
"It may sound a little funny but each time we have done well in the Oaks our filly has run in the first four in this race," she laughed.
"Habibi finished third then fourth in the Oaks while Rising Romance was fourth to Lucia Valentina before she came out and won.
"Hopefully we can keep that trend going with this filly."
Logan will now turn her attention to Saturday's $3m Gr. 1 Doncaster Handicap where multiple Group One winner Volkstok'n'barrell will tackle a line-up of superstars including the darling of Australian racing, Winx.
"He couldn't be better leading into the race but it will be a very big ask, especially with the likes of Winx in the race," she said.
"I doubt whether he will ever get to carry 52.5kgs in a race ever again so we've got take our chances as you don't get a prize for sitting at home." – NZ Racing Desk