He might not have the credentials of Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer but trainer Donna Logan is confident connections of little-known New Zealander stayer Le Baron will enjoy a fun ride this spring.The four-year-old is part-owned by the OTI Racing Syndicate managed by Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson who also raced Bauer.But with the Luca Cumani-trained galloper to miss the spring due to injury, Le Baron might just prove an able replacement.Logan isn't sure Le Baron will be ready for the major

He might not have the credentials of Melbourne Cup runner-up Bauer but trainer Donna Logan is confident connections of little-known New Zealander stayer Le Baron will enjoy a fun ride this spring.

The four-year-old is part-owned by the OTI Racing Syndicate managed by Simon O'Donnell and Terry Henderson who also raced Bauer.

But with the Luca Cumani-trained galloper to miss the spring due to injury, Le Baron might just prove an able replacement.

Logan isn't sure Le Baron will be ready for the major Cups this year, although he has been entered for them, but she does have her sights on the Group One Metropolitan Handicap (2400m) at Randwick on October 3.

"That has been the set target for the preparation at this stage," Logan said.

"A lot will depend on the horse's performances in Sydney this campaign as to what and where his next mission will be."

Le Baron arrived in Sydney on Wednesday night in readiness for his Australian debut in Saturday's Listed Premier's Cup (1800m) at Rosehill.

Logan is no stranger to the harbour city where she won the 2002 Metropolitan with Victory Smile and she believes Le Baron compares favourably with her former star.

"Victory Smile, of course, was a bit older at that stage but I think he's pretty closely matched up to him," she said.

Le Baron has won three of his 11 starts, the highlight his Group Two Great Northern Guineas (2100m) triumph at Ellerslie in December last year.

He failed badly in the New Zealand Derby won by Australian Coniston Bluebird three starts later but Logan said the gelding was physically immature and didn't cope with his preparation.

He was spelled and has returned in good order, being placed at his two starts this time in, the latest over 1600m and Logan is looking forward to stepping him up in distance.

"His last start he went down narrowly and got beaten but the (slow) track was just that little bit too testing that he couldn't ping off the top of the ground," Logan said.

"The horse has got plenty of room for improvement. We don't start off with them wound up very tight at this very early stage so there's a lot of improvement in the horse.

"I think he'll run a bold race (on Saturday), 1800 metres he's definitely looking for at this stage but again over, say 2400, I feel you'll see the horse at his best."

Tye Angland will ride Le Baron who has the visitor's draw and will jump from the outside gate in the 11-horse field.