Racing: All roads lead to Queensland

All Roads and Kelly McCulloch on their way to winning at Tauranga yesterday. Photo / Trish Dunell

All Roads banked a healthy cheque for his connections at Tauranga yesterday with part of those winnings to almost certainly be used to cover an overseas trip later this year.

The genuine five-year-old powered to a deserved victory and the thick end of the $100,000 stake in yesterday's Windsor Park Stud Japan-New Zealand International Trophy and a performance to all but confirm plans for Queensland.

"Brisbane's not a bad place to be in the winter time and it's nice when they've already paid their way," said Donna Logan, who trains All Roads with Chris Gibbs.

"The money there is very good and he's quite versatile, I think he will get over more ground."

All Roads had finished runner-up in three of his previous four starts, including an unlucky run when cramped for room in the group two Rich Hill Mile.

"He should have won that - he's a very good horse," Logan said.

"My biggest concern today was the track and he only just coped with it."

All Roads was settled early and improved near the turn before rider Kelly McCulloch cut loose on the son of Road To Rock in the straight.

"He travelled beautifully and we got a nice run through the field, if anything he got to the front too soon," she said.

The topweight Scapolo powered home down the outside to finish runner-up with his fellow central districts visitor Beefeater making a good fist of his open class debut with his effort for third.

McCulloch has now won five races on All Roads and she had predicted a top future for the gelding after she was successful in a Rating 65 race on him last July.

"I thought he was something special," she said. "He's got some gears and he gave me a really good feel." Meanwhile the free-going Woodsman will face the sternest test of his career when he returns to the central districts next weekend and the scene of a summer triumph.

Part-owner and trainer Tony Gillies is hoping the five-year-old can sign off his current preparation with a bold showing in the group two Awapuni Gold Cup on a track where he won the Manawatu Cup Prelude in December.

Woodsman will head south in grand form following his front-running victory in the Drymix Cement Bay of Plenty Cup at Tauranga yesterday.

"He's racing really well and as long as he pulls up well he'll go to Palmerton North next Saturday and then he can have a holiday," Gillies said.

Partnered by apprentice Anna Jones, Woodsman was given an uncomplicated ride and he revelled in his work at the head of the field.

Jones increased the tempo 600 metres from home and Woodsman was never in danger from that point, cruising home to score by four lengths.

Clarify raced in the trail throughout and boxed on for second ahead of Endean Rose, who had won the South Waikato Cup at her previous start. Pacorus got back in the field and made some ground to finish fourth, albeit a distant one.

- NZ Racing Desk