KEY POINTS:
Former New Zealand jockey Shane Dye will renew an association with Northland trainer Donna Logan after a decade-long absence when he rides Jazzella at Randwick today.
Dye takes over from regular rider Lisa Cropp for the A$75,000 ($86,000) Wenona Girl Quality (1200m), Jazzella's first start since running fourth to Martini Red on an unsuitable slow track in the Darley Plate at Ellerslie on March 1.
"Shane chased the ride. He's been busy and keen to get back in the winners' circle," Logan said.
Logan opted for a Sydney-based rider over Cropp because Jazzella was being prepared for an extended stay across the Tasman, taking in the Sydney and Brisbane carnivals in search of stakes' race success.
Dye, a former top New Zealand apprentice, only recently returned to Sydney after an eight-year stint in Hong Kong.
His first winner on return was aboard the Gai Waterhouse-trained Fancyfree, formerly trained by Lance O'Sullivan at Matamata.
Logan said Dye's last ride for the stable was "12-to-15 years ago".
Jazzella, a 4-year-old mare, has won five of her 13 starts and is out to make amends for a luckless Australian trip last year.
Her best effort was a narrow second to Storm Signal in a 1350m fillies' and mares' stakes race at Doomben in Brisbane, after running third to the John Hawkes-trained Slow Waltz over 1200m at her only Sydney start.
"It's not a top field on Saturday so I think she's capable of being in the first three, definitely," Logan said of Jazzella who drew barrier five.
Meanwhile, Auckland trainer Bruce Wallace is confident Grand Dancer can make amends for his poor last start run in the Randwick Guineas.
After an encouraging fourth at his previous start, Grand Dancer beat just one runner home in the Golden Rose (1400m) at Rosehill on March 15.
But things went wrong travelling to the races, Wallace said.
"He had a very bad trip, he got a bit off balance a couple of times in the float and then when he arrived the sun was absolutely beating down on him in his tie-up stall." .
"They moved him eventually but he never settled before the race and was kicking walls and playing up which is most unlike him. His performance was also most unlike him.
"But I've got a lot of faith in the horse. I think if he runs to his best he can be in the placings."
- NZPA
