Two big stakes wins for trainers

TRAINERS Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs travelled from their Ruakaka base to Ellerslie on Saturday full of hope.

The top team didn’t go home disappointed taking out the Listed Champagne Stakes and Group II Championship Stakes with highly promising youngsters they prepare.

Qiji Phoenix is a horse going places.

He cruised to victory in the Listed Champagne Stakes (1600m) for Logan and Gibbs in the manner of a horse heading for the top.

Logan and Gibbs won the feature last year with the filly Astara, and claimed a repeat result.

And if all goes well in the next few weeks he will be on a plane to Brisbane to be tested at Group I level against the best 2-year-olds.

‘‘I think he’s the real deal,’’ Logan said as she praised the ride of Leith Innes. ’’He rode a perfect race.

‘‘The horse is a very laid-back individual which is going to help him immensely. He’s got a beautiful nature and we’ll see how he comes out of this race before we make a decision on Brisbane.’’

Logan is looking ahead to a Group I J.J. Atkins at Eagle Farm on June 10, won last year by the Tony Pike-trained Sacred Elixir.

In time Logan expects the colt bought for $75,000 as a yearling at Karaka, to develop into a Derbytype horse.

‘‘He relaxes and you can put him anywhere in a race,’’ she said.

The son of Not A Single Doubt is owned by Chinese businessman Fudong Niu and extended his unbeaten record to three out of three.

Weather With You ran on well for second while Scott Base ran third.

Later in the day the stable captured the Championship Stakes with super talented Tavidream.

The son of Tavistock was winning his fifth and most important race for his enthusiastic owners from seven starts with second his worst placing in an outstandng career.

His efforts haven’t gone unnoticed, the prospective buyers are circling and Gibbs is concerned the ‘‘silly money ‘‘ being offered might prove too good to refuse.

If buyers are fended off, the 3-year-old, bought privately out of a paddock by Gibbs, is Queensland Derby-bound.

‘‘You’ve got to look at those races.’’