Byerley Park trainer Donna Logan was pleased to step her stakes performed fillies, Parfait Dimanche and Belle Rebelle, out at the Te Awamutu trials on Tuesday, and she is hoping they can both match their black-type feats from last season this spring.
While winless as a juvenile, Parfait Dimanche placed in both the Gr.2 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) and Gr.3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (1200m), and Logan was pleased to see the daughter of Anders take out her 850m heat on Tuesday.
“It was a good trial,” Logan said. “She has strengthened up a lot since she went out for a spell and really fought hard to the line on her own merits. She has pulled up well from the trial this morning, so I am very pleased with it.
“She got black-type as a two-year-old, which is very good for her pedigree, but we are at that starting point again now where they have to prove themselves as three-year-olds. Sometimes they grow a leg between being a two-year-old and three-year-old, and I am hoping that is the case with her.
“I may well look at Hastings as a kick-off point on the 12th of September for the Sir Colin Meads Trophy (Listed) over 1200m, or there is a maiden there on the same day. We are just planning at this point where to take her.”
While unsure whether Parfait Dimanche will get out to a mile, Logan has put in a nomination for the Gr.1 Barneswood Farm New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m) at Riccarton in November, and she is hoping she can get her there.
“I have put a nom in for the 1000 Guineas, so we will have to hope that she can stretch out that far,” she said.
Stablemate Belle Rebelle, who was runner-up in the Listed Star Way Stakes (1200m) last season, didn’t cop the Heavy8 track conditions at Te Awamutu and finished fourth in her heat.
“Belle Rebelle was in a really hot heat,” Logan said. “Masa (Hashizume, jockey) said she didn’t like the track at all, so I thought it was a pretty good effort from her.
“Belle Rebelle is in the same boat (as Parfait Dimanche). I just want to see how she pulls up when she works after that trial. She might have to go to Hawke’s Bay as well. Belle Rebelle’s worst run was left-handed at Te Rapa. Was it because she was at the end of her prep? Was it because it was left-handed? They have got to prove themselves and we have got to try.
Stablemate Surprize Package, the last foal out of Group One winner Surprize Surprize, had her first trial yesterday and placed over 850m. The daughter of Telperion will trial again before making her raceday debut.
“She was very green, but got home nice and strong,” Logan said. “She will have to go back to the trials on that run. She still lacks enough education to go to a race with her just yet.”
Meanwhile, Logan will head to Te Aroha on Sunday with seven runners, including Girlzgirlzgirlz in the Apparelmaster Waikato 1400.
“It is going to be a wet track and she should love it,” Logan said. “She has drawn out in 13, which will suit her.”
Girlzgirlzgirlz will be met in her race by stablemate Yokozuna.
“I am hoping he will cop the wet track,” Logan said. “I know he has won on a wet track at Ruakaka. By the last race it will be pretty testing, so we will soon see if he is made to be a real wet tracker.”
Logan is also upbeat about the chances of Dragonstone in the Colin West Panelbeaters Maiden 1400 and Rocking in the Manco 1150.
“Dragonstone will love a wet track, but I don’t know if one is the place to be,” Logan said.
“Rocking should love the wet track. She will drop back in distance, and I have kept her a bit fresher for this just to get her to settle. She just over-raced in her last couple of starts, and that is not ideal.” – LOVERACING.NZ News Desk
