Racing: Volkstok'n'barrell high spirited at home trials

Vinnie Colgan takes the Donna Logan-trained Volkstok'n'barrell [red] towards the line during the OPN Catchweight 1000 trial at the Whangarei Racing Club. Photo / John Stone

A gallant run down the last 400m at Ruakaka racecourse saw local galloper Volkstok'n'barrell place second in the first race of the OPN Catchweight 1000 trials, a befitting last hurrah from the champion bay gelding who is destined for greater things overseas.

With a Melbourne Spring Carnival Cox Plate challenge a likely fixture for the four-year-old, a healthy dose of sea air has done him plenty of good since being back in work on local soil for the past few months.

"He really needed the trial, he was really fresh, he'd been kicking the back of the gates just being stupid so that'll tighten him up and bring him forward in leaps and bounds," trainer Donna Logan said.

"He had a good clean-out when he came to the end, that's all we wanted to do. When they're fresh they really want to get out and do it so he was standing in the starting gates kicking, he just wanted to get out and go so it's all good stuff really - he'll take a lot of improvement from that."

Looking ahead, Logan said a decision was still to be made on whether they will take Volkstok'n'barrell straight to Melbourne or give him one last chance to blow out the cobwebs at the Makfi Challenge Stakes in Hawke's Bay.

"His main target is the Cox Plate, that's what he's getting ready for now," Logan said.

"Probably, either Makfi in Hawke's Bay or straight to Melbourne. Weather and tracks will tell us which way to go.

"He's booked for Melbourne but we can always cancel that - very flexible at this stage."

Volkstok'n'barrell's close rival Mongolian Khan - a horse destined for the Melbourne Cup - placed fourth in the first trial, a race which included several other Group One heavyweights.

Mongolian Khan's trainer Andrew Forsman said: " We just wanted him to have a good hit-out, he's a colt obviously and he's a bit above himself so we were happy for him to get around safe and the good result was a positive."

Pleased with the Ruakaka track, Forsman said the dead 5 course was ideal compared to most other tracks around New Zealand at present.

"All the tracks down where we are are pretty waterlogged at the moment so it's brilliant to get up here and have a good hit-out on a good track. He'll probably head to Melbourne now and probably his first start will be September."

Maygrove, Dal Cielo, Turn Me Loose and Puccini also ran in the trial for Forsman and his co-trainer Murray Baker and their horse Elusive Gold placed first in the Northern Advocate 1200.