Duo enjoy local meet with five winners
RUAKAKA trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs dominated on their home track yesterday when winning five of the eight races.
The wins include the Waipu Cup and the partnership also trained a quinella and a trifecta.
‘‘It’s been a marvellous day,’’ Logan said
‘‘We’ve had five [in a day] three or four times . . . six is our best.’’
Their winner in the last race, All Roads, was most impressive swooping on the leaders 100m out and winning effortlessly in the hands of Kelly McCulloch.
Te Kauwhata trainer Tony Cole sent All Roads to Logan and Gibbs for winter racing at Ruakaka.
It was All Roads’ first race for five months and to fit him for the Cowley’s Hire Centre Rating 65, Cole prepared him to finish second in an Avondale trial on May 12.
‘‘He’s a very nice horse in the making,’’ Logan said.
She and Gibbs nailed a trifecta in The Advance Build Far North ITM Maiden, with Greencast winning by a nose from Beaufighter and Fortius third. The trainers fourth runner in the race, Secluded, was 14th.
‘‘He’s got a big future . . . I really like him. He’s going to be a nice staying horse,’’ Logan said of Greencast.
Rocknrolla’s win in the Waipu Cup gave jockey Trudy Thornton three wins for the day. The Cambridge rider was also successful on Greencast and the Kim Knighttrained Spider.
Plans for Rocknrolla are not certain but the Towkay mare could be considered for the $30,000 Whangarei Cup on July 23.
Winner Candle In The Wind and Zafrenzy gave Logan and Gibbs an early quinella on the programme when they disputed the finish of the Northbeam Timber Rating 85. One length separated them. Candle In The Wind is a Ruakaka track specialist having had nine starts there for five wins and three seconds. TRISH DUNELL