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Logan's Choice ready to roll at Rosehill

Friday 20 November 2009
By Mandy Cottell

Astute trainer Barbara Joseph has prepared some smart mares during her time and she is hoping she has found another one in the up-and-coming Logan's Choice.

Joseph, who has put the polish on the likes of stakeswinners Ain't Seen Nothin' and A Country Girl, has black-type ambitions for Logan's Choice but the four-year-old's immediate goal is the Turner Freeman Hcp (1300m) at Rosehill on Saturday.

"She will only have this race tomorrow then win, lose or draw she's going out," Joseph said.

"She'll have a four-week break and come back for the autumn carnival.

"I haven't picked out any particular races but we'll look at getting her some black type if she measures up tomorrow."

A daughter of supersire Redoute's Choice, Logan's Choice was tried in stakes company during her autumn three-year-old season and despite her dislike of rain-affected tracks she managed a sound fifth to Miss Darcey on dead ground in the Group Three Adrian Knox Stakes (2000m).

She resumed with an encouraging second to Peace Academy at Canterbury last month then was the subject of a betting plunge last start when she was backed in from $5 to start the $3.50 favourite and duly won.

"I think the owners were behind that," Joseph said with a laugh.

"It's a very similar field tomorrow and she's still down in weight with 53 so I think she should be hard to beat again."

Handy gelding Onthelookout will resume for Joseph in the Hutchinsons Builders Hcp (1200m) although she would have preferred an easier first-up assignment for him.

But she has enjoyed success with the four-year-old's owner in the past and hoped that luck might continue.

"He is raced by Bill Sexton who is the old chairman of Eagle Farm, he's been an owner of mine for a long time," Joseph said.

"We've had some luck together winning races in the country and the city and he owned both A Country Girl and Ballybelle."

Joseph's pair will have one additional hurdle to overcome on Saturday.

While all horses racing at Rosehill will have to cope with the predicted heatwave conditions, Onthelookout and Logan's Choice will also have to handle the long float trip from Joseph's Canberra stables without the luxury of air conditioning.

"They're going to be leaving a bit earlier than usual because one of the horses is in an early race and once they get there they'll be given a big hose down," Joseph said.

Racing NSW stewards are putting several measures in place to help horses cope with the expected high temperatures, including hosing each horse down after it races.