It's a long shadow Rising Romance is trying to match, but she's getting closer.
Co-trainer Donna Logan says Habibi left a big hole in the Ruakaka stable when she was sold to the United States.
"This filly's emergence is making Habibi's absence a fair bit softer."
The Logans had Rising Romance in both the Royal Stakes and Championship Stakes and Donna Logan said she was keen to run her against the males in the latter.
"But the barrier draws [14 in the Championship and 7 in the Royal Stakes] dictated which race we went for, but I'd have loved to have had a crack at the other race. I suppose you could say we went for the softer option."