Racing: Locals come out winners

It was business as usual at the Whangarei Racing Club's meeting at Ruakaka on Saturday with local trainers bagging four winners.

Logan Racing Stables had another successful day bagging three winners, three seconds, a third and a fourth from their 10 runners, while trainer Brent Wells saddled up impressive maiden winner Riot Act.

Riot Act was particularly impressive after being parked three wide in the open throughout.

"He's a lovely horse and that was a big effort for sure," said Wells. "He'll learn a lot from that and will come back a better horse next time in."

Despite his dominant winning display Wells isn't enticed to keep the Rusty Spur gelding going in this preparation. "He's still a bit on the weak side and is gangly in his action. I think he will benefit from the break."

Riot Act caught the eye winning a trial at Paeroa but then had no luck on debut at Pukekohe when he was lucky to stay on his feet after being squeezed up by a runner on his outside. "He was just a victim of circumstances that day."

Riot Act is owned by Brad Rayner, who bought the horse at a Karaka Yearling Sale.

Jungle Juice, Radar, and Nazeer were the Logan winners.

"Jungle Juice deserved that," said co-trainer Dean Logan. "She was just topped off last week in the Whangarei Cup and almost threw it away again on Saturday. She pulled up after hitting the front and only got going again when she saw the other horse coming through on the inside." Jungle Juice was bought by the Trelawney Stud earlier this year and will more than likely head off to stud this breeding season.

Radar looked very good racing away from his opposition running a second faster than the other maiden heat. "He didn't cop the sticky track at Matamata and that was more like it. He was impressive winning a trial at Paeroa before that."

Radar is part-owned by local identities Murray Darroch, Wayne Hill, and Ray Smith.

Nazeer received a welcome change of luck getting up late to beat the highly regarded Good Will.

"Nothing has really gone his way this time in so it was great to get a win with him," said Logan. "If he wasn't caught wide from outside draws he would be stuck in behind them with nowhere to go. To win a $12,500 maiden with him was satisfying."

Meanwhile, Trapiche was a major beneficiary of a good racing surface when winning the major sprint.

"He can really sprint on top of the ground and that track was ideal for him on Saturday," said trainer Richard Otto.

"His runs going into that had been sound and with the better conditions we went into the race with some confidence."

Otto may back up Trapiche at Te Rapa next weekend.