Racing: Mare can give trainer farewell gift

Dean Logan and training partner Donna have another strong hand tomorrow. Photo / Michael Cunningham

Pukekohe trainer Richard Collett hopes course specialist Payette can gift his training partner, Gareth McRae, a going-away present at Ruakaka tomorrow.

McRae has been in partnership with Collett since the beginning of the season but has accepted a role as stable foreman for former Kiwi trainer and now Randwick-based John Sargent and leaves next month.

Smart mare Payette showed with her last-start third at Ruakaka on June 14 she will be tough to beat in race five, the open 1600m event.

Collett and McRae have saddled 28 winners this season and Collett said Payette's last race was the run of an improver.

"We haven't done a lot with her since her last race," Collett said. "It was her first start over 1600 last time and she was just a bit too keen but we are hoping there is a faster tempo this time to let her settle."

Payette raced keenly near the pace last time and Collett admits putting blinkers on her didn't help.

"We've left the blinkers on again though," he said.

"She'd raced in side winkers the time before and we didn't want to be switching back and forward with gear changes all the time.

"If she can get a nice sit one out and one back this time she will be hard to beat."

Payette will face strong opposition from last-start winners Spin Doctor, King Zeus and Candle In The Wind.

Spin Doctor has won his last two starts at Te Rapa over 1400m but is a past winner at Ruakaka and has also won over 1600m.

The Donna and Dean Logan-trained King Zeus and Candle In The Wind impressed winning at the last Ruakaka meeting in weaker company but have the ability to measure up to open class.

Collett and McRae have a chance for success earlier in the day when they saddle Speech Craft in race two.

Speech Craft also ran third at the June 14 meeting at Ruakaka.

"The field doesn't look as strong as when he raced last time," Collett said. "He'd had six weeks between races last time and will strip a lot fitter."

Hardest for Speech Craft to beat will be Airfield Road.

He finished fifth behind Speech Craft last time but was late getting clear.

McRae said while it would be sad for he and wife Robyn to leave New Zealand and all their friends, the opportunity was too good to dismiss.

"Our daughter, Tessa, lives in Sydney and is expecting her first baby so that's a big part of it," he said. "Robyn will be involved running the stable office too."

The Logan team saddled six winners at the last Ruakaka meeting and can get the day off on a winning note in race one.

Whistling Straits had no luck when late getting clear at the last meeting. He drops in grade and steps up to his pet distance of 2100m.

Another local trainer, Ken Rae, looks to have a strong winning chance with Savannah Somoya in race three, the juvenile event over 1000m. The Keeper filly has had only two starts for a fourth at Te Aroha and close-up fifth at Ellerslie.