'Gollum' is galloping success

Castle Heights was happy as a pig in muck to be home in his Ruakaka paddock after a successful month in Australia in which he won the 2350m Grafton Cup.
Owned locally and trained by Ruakaka-based Dean and Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs, Castle Heights' Grafton Cup $120,000 haul left huge smiles on his stakeholders' faces.
They were also filled with high hopes for the future of the $16,000 bargain buy, affectionately known as Gollum.
"He was pretty ugly as a baby when we brought him home, so my kids nicknamed him Gollum - like the Lord of the Rings character," Donna Logan said yesterday at the Ruakaka racetrack.
Bought as a yearling at Karaka, that "ugly" baby has grown into a classy rising-5-year-old who has produced quality form in his first year of racing, winning six of his 14 starts.
"He was fourth in the City of Auckland Cup in January, then fifth in the Wellington Cup before he went to Australia," Donna Logan said.
Castle Heights arrived in Brisbane mid-June to run sixth in the Tattersall's Cup.
"He was a bit on the fat side for the Tatt's Cup as we had wanted to run him in an open mile at Eagle Farm earlier but our plans were delayed," trainer Dean Logan said. 
Castle Heights raced in the $100,000 Rockhampton Cup, running fourth, before travelling to Grafton, New South Wales.
With key factors in place, including the horse's condition, a good barrier draw and  exceptional jockey Stathi Katsidis on board, Dean Logan said he was confident the horse would do well at the biggest country race meeting in Australia.
Part-owner Murray (and Sally) Lornie of Whangarei was at Clarence River Jockey Club to see the Kiwi stayer come home a nose in front of fellow New Zealand-bred horses Hume in second and Twin Wing, third.
"We weren't sure if he had won or not and we were pretty glad when number five came up on the screen to say he had won," Mr Lornie said.
The Golan-sired Castle Heights is the first race horse the Lornies have co-owned, along with Ray Smith, Barry and Cilla Golding. Fellow owners Roy Dickey, Murray Darroch and Donna Logan also enjoyed the pay-out for the horse's first listed win.
"The highlight for me is that he is owned locally," Donna Logan said.
"He is owned by a great bunch of guys and... the journey he is taking them on is amazing."
The win was also a triumph for controversial Queensland jockey Katsidis, a regular rider for the Logan stable in Australia for the past nine years.
He only returned to the saddle this month after a 14-month lay-off due to a suspension for drug-taking and a frustrating run of injuries.
Castle Heights arrived at Auckland Airport early yesterday morning with strapper Anthony Burton, and looked happy to be home in his Ruakaka paddock after his time in the limelight - which apparently he thrived on.
"Katsidis was riding him backwards and forwards in front of the screaming crowd after he had won and everyone said they had never seen him look so arrogant before, there strutting his stuff," Donna Logan said.
He may well get another chance to shine soon - with the victory, the gelding has qualified for the upcoming Caulfield and Melbourne cups.
Castle Heights will have a spell at Ruakaka before the trainers and owners decide what major race they will aim for next with the horse - a likely target will be the Auckland Cup in March.