HORSE RACING - Surprise win puts spotlight on bolter

A surprise success at Ellerslie has suddenly tossed Ruakaka-trained horse Stabinthedark into the limelight for the New Zealand Cup galloping title that will culminate Cup Week at Riccarton in Christchurch next week.
Stabinthedark won the 2000-metre Cuvee Stakes as a rank outsider at Ellerslie on Tuesday, now the horse is being touted as a big chance for winning the 3200-metre feature race in Christchurch next week.
Trained at Ruakaka by Donna Logan, Dean Logan and Chris Gibbs, Donna Logan shares in the ownership of Stabinthedark that also comprises Tony Erceg, Terry Powell, Michael Springford and Peter Woods. The $12,000 yearling purchased by Logan three years ago has now won eight of his 30 starts and $140,900 in stakes.
Not only that, but it has finally given Donna Logan the chance to placate her co-owners who she says have been harassing her for several years about getting a Northland horse on the card for Cup Week at Riccarton.
Even better, Stabinthedark will be carrying less weight in the handicap feature than expected and has arrived in Christchurch early with Logan saying reports from her team in Christchurch are all sounding positive.
"Those guys have said to me so often that they wanted one of their horses down there for Cup Week, now we've got one alright and not only one but one with a strong chance of winning the New Zealand Cup," Logan said.
"He (Stabinthedark) is the highest rated horse in the NZ Cup field and had there been any re-handicapping he would have been carrying top weight in the field. But there isn't any re-handicapping so Stabinthedark will be carrying just 54kg which is a very good weight for him," she said.
"It is going to be a good Cup Week for Ruakaka. There is a big group of supporters going down now with some good horses to back."
To suddenly become one of the early favourites for the $220,000 NZ Cup that will be run on Saturday next week, Stabinthedark made the most of a heavy track at Ellerslie to win the $100,000 feature on Tuesday.
It was a result that almost slipped under the radar though, as it happened at Ellerslie on Tuesday just moments before the gates burst open at Flemington for the Melbourne Cup.
It was only for the fact that nominations for the Cuvee Stakes were held open that Stabinthedark even lined up.
"I didn't even know who won the Melbourne Cup until way after the race because I was too busy celebrating with Stabinthedark," Logan said.
"Once I saw the rain (on Tuesday) I knew Stabinthedark could run at Ellerslie. I was worried about running him on the hard track at Riccarton to prepare for the NZ Cup so I opted to run him close to home. It worked a treat.
"He was straight on the plane afterwards and is down there at Riccarton fresh, relaxed and ready to go now."
Logan is heading south with two more hopefuls, Anuthahorse and Carmaddy, which will race during the week and will form part of a strong Northland contingent at Riccarton as Kenny Rae, another successful Ruakaka-based trainer, is also in Christchurch with four from his stable; Diamonds On Fire, Nosmoking, Nevada and De Goals.