Trainers huge transTasman weekend
Ruakaka trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs have their interests spread across Randwick and two New Zealand meetings on Saturday.
‘‘It will be hard to know where to look on Saturday, we’ve got them all over the place,’’ Gibbs said.
Three-time Group I winner Volkstok’n’barrell heads to a Group I in Sydney while 2-year-old Wyndspelle tackles a Group I at Awapuni.
His trainers believe Volkstok’n’barrell has grown into a more furnished horse since his last trip to Australia, as he prepares to cross the Tasman again.
The 4-year-old Tavistock gelding has strung together back-toback Group I wins in New Zealand, ahead of his bid to wn the A$3 million Doncaster Mile at Randwick on Saturday.
Logan and Gibbs discovered Volkstok’n’barrell was an asthmatic following his last Australian campaign, and subsequent measures and results have shown he has bounced back to his best.
Despite a flight delay, he was scheduled to arrive on in Sydney on Thursday and there were no concerns.
‘‘He’s such a cruiser he could just about step off the plane and go to the races – not that we want that to happen,’’ Gibbs said.
His connections believe Volkstok’n’barrell’s fitness from winning the New Zealand Stakes (2000m) last start is ideal for a Doncaster bid.
‘‘His work on Tuesday morning was exceptional,’’ Gibbs said.
‘‘He picked up Wyndspelle and they ran to the line beautifully on the course proper and ran good time.’’ Gibbs realises Volkstok’n’barrell will have to be at his absolute best to figure in the race.
‘‘Look it’s a Doncaster, it will be tough,’’ he said.
‘‘Winx [odds-on favourite] is going to be super tough. I would love our horse to tack on the back of Winx and make his run from there.’’
Corey Brown will ride Volkstok’n’barrell at the luxury weight of 52.5kg.
At Awapuni Mark Du Plessis scores the plum ride on Wyndspelle ($5.50) in the Manawatu Sires Produce (1400m). He is second favourite in the $225,000 juvenile feature behind unbeaten Fastnet Rock colt Heroic Valour.
They clashed in the Group I Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie with Wyndspelle taking ground off Heroic Valour ($3.20) in the closing stages suggesting Saturday’s distance will give him more time to find his feet and close the race off. Gibbs reports the stable is ‘‘very happy’’ with his progress in the interim.
‘‘It was a super run in the Diamond and he’s drawn well again at six,’’ Gibbs said. ‘‘I think he will run a super race.’’
Du Plessis is also expecting big things.
‘‘He should be a huge chance,’’ he said.
‘‘We’ve still got to beat Heroic Valour and Sassy ‘‘N’ Smart and some other good ones but I think my horse is going to improve from Auckland and be a great show.’’