A red-letter day on their home patch for the local Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs training partnership was capped off by a touch of class from promising three-year- old Rockabyebaby on Saturday.
The Logan & Gibbs team had dominated proceedings at Ruakaka throughout the day, winning thefirst three races before adding further victories courtesy of Zafrenzy and Toorak Tower (albeit via a deadheat), later on the card. Expectations were high before the running of the last race where leading rider Chris Johnson didn’t disappoint as he produced a masterclass aboard Rockabyebaby to land victory from stablemate I See Red and round out a superlative day for the locals.
The Whakanui Stud owned and bred filly was having her first start since finishing last in the Gr. 2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic back in February. Last away from an outside barrier, Johnson quickly manoeuvred the Rip Van Winkle filly on to the rail before steadily improving along the inner approaching the home turn. Angled one-off to clear the tiring pacemaker, Johnson was his usual silky self as he urged the filly to the front where she kept up a powerful gallop to score by a length and a quarter at the line.
Logan admitted she had been proven wrong in the final wash-up to the event after nominating I See Red as their best chance in the race.
“I’m the worst picker in the world as I went I See Red so don’t follow me,” she laughed when interviewed after the race.
“We’ve looked after this filly and nurtured her along as she’s always shown us enough.
“I also think that when she gets up over a bit more ground that there is plenty more in store.”
Logan was also in a joking mood when describing the performance of Johnson.
“I’d told him this was his last chance as he’s had seconds and thirds all day,” she smiled.
“He rode her a treat as I’d told him you can’t go wide and he followed that instruction to the letter.”
Rockabyebaby is the second foal of Fastnet Rock mare Rockadubai and from an extended family that features numerous stakes performers such as speedy juvenile Lady Dehere and Gr. 3 CS Hayes Stakes winner Oratorio.
