Matt Cameron is all smiles aboard classy 3-year-old after their win in the Great Northern Guineas yesterday. Photo / Greg Bowker
Matamata horseman Jim Gibbs is an extremely circumspect bloke.
A lifetime of riding and training can do that to you.
Gibbs has been almost embarrassed about the reputation we, the press, have put on Volkstok'n'barrell.
"He's been put on a pedestal I don't believe he deserves," said Gibbs after Volkstok'n'barrell won yesterday's $100,000 The Sound Great Northern Guineas at Ellerslie.
Yes, Gibbs, one of the game's great judges, is becoming a believer.
"I'll be honest I was very negative coming into today's race," he said. "I pleaded with Donna [Logan] not to take him to Christchurch [for the 2000 Guineas] and to be very patient.
"He's got a big future."
Rider Matt Cameron leans more to the side of the media - he is totally taken with Volkstok'n'barrell.
The winner of four from five starts took the front early in the home straight and was put under pressure by well-fancied Rockfast.
Hard as Rockfast tried, Volkstok'n'barrell held him safely, but Cameron said it was actually a lot easier than that.
"He was waiting for Rockfast all the way up the home straight. He was saying: 'Come on, where are you and what about the others, aren't you going to come after me?' He's a big kid, he likes playing with the others."
Donna Logan was emotional at the winner's presentation; ex-husband Dean is extremely ill with cancer and was unable to be at the races.
"This win is for Dean," she told the large crowd. "Watch this horse a bit longer, Dean - please."
Rockfast was having his first start since his second at Riccarton on November 8 and is subject to improvement. "That was a fabulous effort," said stable representative Pam Gerrard.
Co-trainer Murray Baker couldn't believe the $8 win dividend on his $100,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Royal Stakes winner Saavoya, but that was the least of his problems.
At the same time as he was questioning how the Eight Carat Classic winner from Boxing Day could be despised in betting, two of his riders and horses lay sprawled on the Ellerslie turf.
In an interesting twist, the winner, Saavoya, brought down her stablemates De Kensington Oval and Ezra. Craig Grylls, who had been four wide near the back on the winner, cut back inside early in the home straight and De Kensington Oval struck one of Saavoya's heels and crashed heavily, bringing down Ezra. Grylls was charged with careless riding.
De Kensington Oval's rider, Jonathan Riddell, and Lynsey Satherley on Ezra were uninjured.
"I was going really well," Riddell told Murray Baker. "I can't say I was going to win, but I wasn't going to be far away."
"I think she's a very good filly," said Baker. "We'll look at the Oaks."
The favourite Vavasour tried hard in the closing stages, but the winner was too strong. Palace Rock was hampered by the fallen horses, as was Darci's Dream.
Gaining admirers
• Volkstok'n'barrell carried on his winning way at Ellerslie yesterday.
• The win provided a poignant moment for co-trainer Donna Logan as her ex-husband Dean Logan is very ill.
• Rider Matt Cameron was particularly impressed.
'It’s a huge honour and it’s just reflective of all the good horses I’ve ridden.'