Racing: Horse nobody wanted notches his fifth steeplechase success

A few years ago the owners of Logan James couldn't give the horse away.

The 8-year-old gelding, by Yachtie, racked up his fifth jumps win in the $25,000 Manawatu Steeplechase (4400m) at Awapuni on Saturday.

Logan James is owned by Graham Falconer and his daughter Bridgette and they had given up on the horse after he failed to win on the flat and had been placed just a couple of times over hurdles.

Falconer reached the point where he had agreed to give away Logan James but the person failed to show, said the horse's trainer Ross Elliot from Cambridge.

"A girl was supposed to pick him up," Elliot said on Saturday.

"But she never arrived and Graham said to me the horse is sitting here, what are we going to do with him? Can we make him into a steeplechaser?"

The rest is now history. Logan James was having his 21st start over country on Saturday for a record which now stands at five wins, one second and three thirds. Saturday's winning purse of $15,625 took his total stake earnings to $51,000.

It was his second success for the year after winning at Wanganui last month and made amends for his previous start, when he fell in the early stages of the Waikato Steeplechase on May 22.

Elliot said it was likely Logan James would return to the lower North Island for the $50,000 Wellington Steeplechase (5500m) at Trentham on July 17. All going well, he would also head south for the $57,500 Grand National Steeplechase (5600m) at Riccarton on August 14.

Logan James was ridden by Irishman Richard Cully. He has come to New Zealand for the winter at the suggestion of the Falconer family.

Cully met the Falconers when in New Zealand a few years ago and the Falconers stayed with Cully's family in a subsequent visit to Ireland.

Falconer, from Cambridge, is a retired former owner of a pet food company. Logan James is named for his grandson.

Cully had Logan James handy in the early stages of the Manawatu Steeplechase but the horse was travelling so well that he strode to the lead with a round to go. Inside the last 800m, Logan James put the pressure on his rivals when edging clear and Cully was looking around for challengers before the last fence, which he safely negotiated to draw clear to score by 16 lengths as the seventh favourite in a field of 10.

The favourite, Nana, handy enough over the concluding stages, was second with a nose to outsider In Ya Dreams third.

There was early drama in the race when third favourite Finito and Riverlea collided in midair at the fourth fence. Finito fell and Riverlea lost his rider while second favourite No Rush'n couldn't avoid the fallen Finito and rider Jonathan Riddell was tossed from the saddle.

Riddell and Finito's rider Mathew Gillies both escaped injury, but Riverlea's rider Tom Hazlett was taken to hospital with an ankle injury.

Riddell had success in the day's other feature, the $25,000 Awapuni Hurdles (2900m), aboard the Paul Nelson-trained Ho Down.

The Victory Dance 8-year-old gelding moved into the lead at the top of the straight and went on to score comprehensively by 3 lengths as a $4.80 third favourite. Favourite Mickey, handy throughout, was second.

Second favourite Spirit Of Alaton made the pace but weakened to finish last in a field of eight. Rider Tom Hazlett felt the horse did not handle the heavy track conditions.

- NZPA