DURHAM TOWN READY FOR GROUP ONE ASSIGNMENT
An impressive run at last Tuesday’s Te Aroha trials has Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan convinced her high-class sprinter Durham Town is ready to put his first Group One victory on the board as he gets ready to contest the Sistema Railway Stakes (!200m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
Although he only finished second in the day’s open class heat over 1200 metres, it was the manner in which he practically towed rider Michael Coleman to the line that put a wide smile on Logan’s face and confirmed to her he was cherry ripe for Ellerslie.
“I was absolutely delighted with the outing and I couldn’t be happier with him with ten days to go until the race,” said Logan.
“He travelled back beautifully from Riccarton after the Stewards and hasn’t put a foot wrong as we have prepared him for Ellerslie.”
James MacDonald will return from Australia to ride Durham Town in the Railway after making the commitment immediately after his win in the Gr. 3 Lindauer Stewards Stakes on the middle day of Riccarton’s New Zealand Cup Carnival.
“James got off after the Stewards and said that if the horse was going to win a Group One then the Railway would be it and he was keen to come home and ride him,” explained Logan.
“His ride that day at Riccarton was one of the finest you will see and when you have a jockey with the skill and class of James offer to ride your horse then you take that opportunity every time.”
It will be Durham Town’s third attempt at the feature Ellerslie sprint after finishing an unlucky eighth in 2012 and then third last year behind Fleur De Lune and Jetset Lad.
Meanwhile it is a case of déjà vu for Logan as she decides whether to line up promising three-year-old fillies Rising Romance and Telepathic against their own sex in the Gr. 2 Cambridge Stud Eight Carat Classic (1600m) on Boxing Day or take on the colts and geldings in the Gr. 2 Lindauer Great Northern Guineas (1600m).
Last year Logan opted for the latter with unbeaten filly Habibi who dealt to the boys in the Guineas and then returned six days later to repeat the dose in the Gr. 2 Championship Stakes (2100m) before winning the ultimate prize in the Gr. 1 New Zealand Derby (2400m) in March.
“I guess it’s nice to have the option again this year and both fillies will be competitive in whichever race they contest,” said Logan
“Like last year we will probably wait until race morning to see what the track is like before we decide although it would be a pretty decent Christmas present if we could get the same result as we did twelve months ago.”
Reference http://www.nzracing.co.nz/News/11336/Durham-Town-ready-for-Group-One-assignment.aspx
