Top pair do it again

WELLINGTON: Vinnie Colgan and Volkstok‘n’barrell added another prestigious victory to their records at Te Rapa on Saturday.

The Cambridgebased jockey was reunited with the 5yrold and the old firm reigned supreme in New Zealand’s richest weightforage contest, the Herbie Dyke Stakes.

‘‘I haven’t been on him for a little while so it’s great to be back,’’ Colgan, who won the group 1 Haunui Farm Classic and the group 1 New Zealand Stakes aboard the Tavistock gelding last season, said.

Colgan did not miss a beat on Volkstok‘n’barrell as he settled gelding three back on the fence and they were off the rail before the turn.

‘‘We had a sweet trip and when I pulled him out he picked up nicely,’’ he said. ‘‘He’s a tough horse.’’

In a driving finish, they narrowly had the better of 3yrold Savile Row.

Volkstok‘n’barrell is trained at Ruakaka by Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs and they admitted to savouring a huge degree of satisfaction from the victory.

‘‘This was our plan all the way through,’’ Logan said. We’re so excited. He’s had his knockers and we’ve kept quiet and now he’s done it.

Johnathan Parkes produced a copybook ride on Start Wondering to win the group 1 NRM Sprint.

He bounced the Evan and JJ Raynertrained 6yrolds out of the gates to trail the leader Saracino and they were into the clear 400m from home.

Former Wingatui galloper Natuzzi found the line strongly to finish runnerup ahead of 3yrolds Saracino and Heroic Valour. Favourite Kawi was tardily away and he worked home late to finish fifth. — NZ Racing Desk