Northland trainers hope to win richest race at Ruakaka races

If local trainers Donna and Dean Logan do not win the richest race at Ruakaka tomorrow, there is a strong chance the first prizemoney could still be staying in the north.
The Logans have a two-pronged attack on the $30,000 Aussie Butcher Fillies and Mares Series Final with the highly rated Cap Eden Roc commanding most attention, while second string for the stable is Mygoodgrace, who was runner-up to Cap Eden Roc at the last Ruakaka meeting on July 2.
One of the biggest dangers to the Logan pair is Highlight, a High Chapparal mare who was co-bred and is part-owned by Whangarei racing enthusiast Terry Archer.
He has enjoyed plenty of success as an owner, going back to the days of dual group one winner Showella and more recently to that mare's son, Showcause, whose performances this season include wins in the New Zealand Cup, City of Auckland Cup and Avondale Cup and a second to Titch in the $1 million Stella Artois Auckland Cup.
Highlight has a long way to go to even be mentioned in the same breath as Showella and Showcause, but she is certainly showing plenty of promise for trainer Frank Ritchie. She has raced just four times for two wins and a second.
Highlight won on debut at Rotorua on May 14 then two starts later was runner-up to Butcher's Daughter, albeit nine lengths away, in testing conditions at Te Aroha. She bounced back to top form with a decisive win over 1600m at Te Rapa last week in the Lumpy Laing Memorial.
Cap Eden Roc has gathered a similar record to Highlight, though having had one less start. The Fastnet Rock filly has yet to be tried anywhere but on the Ruakaka course and her familiarity with the track will be a big advantage this weekend.
Owned by Dominic Li, Cap Eden Roc was a trials winner at Ruakaka last September, but did not make her raceday debut until May and though she was a beaten favourite, she was an unlucky third to Precious Time and Payette.
The 3-year-old got her opportunity to show her true colours at her second start and she did so in impressive fashion, storming home to win over 1200m on May 25.
Cap Eden Roc's most recent appearance was at the Whangarei meeting on July 2 when ridden for the first time by Craig Grylls. In her first 1400m test, she rounded the race off nicely with a strong finish to seal her bid on this weekend's event.
"We've always rated her highly," Donna Logan said. "She's very well and as long as the track is okay - and it should be unless we get torrential rain - she will be hard to beat. Craig will ride her again."
The Logans are likely to put Cap Eden Roc aside for a spell after the $30,000 event. "She can have a breather and we'll get her ready for spring racing," Logan said.
Stablemate Mygoodgrace is, like Cap Eden Roc, an Australian-bred. She is by Royal Academy from Logan's Ellerslie Sires Produce Stakes winner Good Faith.
Mygoodgrace has shown her share of promise, winning two of her 11 starts and picking up cheques on a further seven occasions. She won twice last November, scoring her maiden victory at Dargaville then repeating the dose at Ellerslie.
Mygoodgrace has been placed in three of her five dead track starts and didn't get much luck in her sole start in heavy going at Ruakaka on May 6. Her last run behind Cap Eden Roc was solid and she has the services of top female rider Lisa Allpress.
Butcher's Daughter, a member of Shaun Clotworthy's in-form squad, will again be a rival for Highlight in the Aussie Butcher F and M Series Final and the daughter of Pyrus warrants a lot of respect. She has a liking for the winter tracks and revelled in the ground at Te Aroha.
Cosabella, the topweight, has the best form in tougher company. The Stravinksy mare ran a solid fifth behind Art Beat in the listed Ingham Sears Mercedes Benz Tauranga Classic.
Hastings trainer John Bary, the man behind top 3-year-old Jimmy Choux, has made the trip north to tackle the event with last-start winner No Excuse Maggie, while Margarita Time, Me Aroha and Angelwithattitude have earned their way into the line-up with some good recent efforts.
The Logans also have a strong hand in the $17,500 Caltex Fuelzone Whangarei Cup with Jungle Juice, Al Askan and Ace High.
Jungle Juice won at Ellerslie before finishing second to Dancing Chief at the May 2 Ruakaka meeting. Al Askan won at the same Ruakaka meeting and Ace High chased Jungle Juice home three starts back when second.
All three will be on trial for the Taumarunui Gold Cup at Te Rapa this month.