Racing: Habibi hot to strike

The best is yet to come.

Only a few days after Ruakaka horse trainer Donna Logan claimed the best was yet to come from her unbeaten filly Habibi, Logan and Habibi are being touted as potential favourites ahead of the New Zealand Herald Christmas Carnival New Year's Day Races in Ellerslie.

If you think the Ruakaka trainer is in awe of her unbeaten filly Habibi, you're on the money.

"I am so excited," said Logan after Habibi sat three wide and waltzed away with last week's $100,000 Stella Artois Great Northern Guineas.

Logan wasn't talking about a runaway win in a group two classic - which would get most owners excited - she's talking about what is still to come.

"She won four from four all up to 1600m and I originally thought she couldn't possibly win a race under 2000m. Wait until she gets up to staying distances."

The cynics were quick to point out that Habibi covered close to 2000m by sitting three wide throughout the race.

The important element was that sitting three wide allowed Habibi to stay handy - an absolute necessity on the rain-affected footing. Horses that dropped back to the second half of the field had no chance.

Co-trainer Dean Logan said he and Donna agreed Habibi was one of their best horses of all time.

"She's quite freakish," said Dean Logan. "Her work the other morning is the best I've seen from any horse of ours for a long, long time."