Racing: Last place bewilders connections

Ruakaka-based horse Durham Town didn't run as well as trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs would have liked recently. Photo / Tania Whyte

Ruakaka trainer Donna Logan has labelled the latest performance of eight-year-old chestnut gelding Durham Town as "a real head-shaker".

Tailing right off in the recent $70,000 Stella Artois Concorde over 1200m at Ellerslie, the high class sprinter - a winner of eight races and $417,000 - dropped well behind the pack to finish dead-last in 11th place.

Rider Sam Spratt said the veteran had not felt right, but Logan Racing co-trainer Donna Logan said she could find nothing amiss with the horse.

"He cleaned up his feed when he got home, is not sore or anything like that, so I can't say what that was all about. It's the worst race he's ever turned in, but there's nothing wrong with him."

With 31 starts for 8-1-6, Durham Town was expected to have a big run after winning a trial over 1000m at Ruakaka recently and finishing 7th at Avondale over 1100m, where he came to the end of his run at the 150m on a Dead 6 track.

Logan Racing's To Be Sure also ran in the Stella Artois Concorde and finished 8th.

Running 21 starts for 5-4-4, To Be Sure has only been out of the money five times.

Meanwhile, favourite Ryan Mark finished third behind Statham and Irish Moon, but was a beaten horse on the home bend and was running on courage for the final 375m.

"He's feeling his wheels (needs easier ground)," said rider Michael Coleman.