For the second year in a row, Donna Logan has won a Group Two race at Ellerslie with an Ekraar filly heading for the New Zealand Derby.

Last year Habibi won the Championship Stakes (2100m) on New Year's Day for the Ruakaka trainer on the way to eventual Derby success, and Logan is hoping for the same result with Rising Romance, winner of the Royal Stakes (2000m) on Wednesday.

Habibi was sold to the United States shortly after her Derby success but Logan says Rising Romance has filled the gap admirably.

"I wanted to run against the boys today (in the Championship Stakes) but the draw was a question mark so we took on the fillies," Logan said.

"We're really looking forward to the Derby. The way she got home just really ticked the boxes for me to get the trip today. The further she goes the better she'll be."

Rising Romance is likely to head to the Avondale Guineas in mid-February in preparation for the Derby.

Her opponents in the Derby could include promising gelding Show The World, a narrow but impressive winner of the Championship Stakes on Wednesday, though trainer Murray Baker says his autumn targets may be in Sydney.

The inexperienced gelding accelerated smoothly from midfield to lead 250m out, and he had too many guns for the fast-finishing Blizzard.

Show The World is bred on the same cross as It's A Dundeel - by High Chaparral out of a Zabeel mare - and Baker says he may try to emulate one of his illustrious stablemate's successes.

"I'd like to think that we get him to Australia. He might be an Australian Derby horse," Baker said.

"I think he'll make a real good horse, he just needs a couple of months."

Baker says the New Zealand Derby could be an option, but no decision on his target has been made.