Racing: Tin Goose lays golden egg for Logan by running third

Sydney raider Zavite might have humbled our best two-milers at Ellerslie yesterday, but Ruakaka co-trainer Dean Logan was beaming as if he had just won New Zealand's richest two-mile crown.

For Logan, co-trainers Donna Logan and Chris Gibbs and owner Dr John Sprague, their outsider Tin Goose's odds-defying run for third - she paid $20 for a place - was a victory in itself.

The camp had been stuck on the ballot until favourite Passchendaele's scratching on Monday.

Yet their share of the purse - $85,000 - more than doubled her lifetime earnings in a little over three minutes.

"I always thought that if we could run in the first three that would be a winning result for us," said Dean Logan.

"She'd been running fourths, fifths and sixths in top company but over two miles it just changes things.

"I knew she'd run up on the pace and she never gives it away."

Logan did not think anyone could beat Zavite, but when rider Trudy Thornton moved forward at the 600m he admits he allowed himself to dream a little.

"When she got travelling I thought she was a chance there - but this is an outstanding result."

Short-term plans were uncertain for Tin Goose in the euphoria over their upset placing yesterday.

But Donna Logan said she might be freshened for a Queensland campaign, which would include a Brisbane Cup (2400m) start.

Awapuni trainer Jeff Lynds said runner-up Booming might also be headed across the Tasman after his brave second for Glen Boss - for the Sydney Cup (3200m) on April 24.

He was no match for the more experienced Zavite in the straight, but thrilled Lynds with his first run over 3200m.

"I was happy with that - he was beautifully ridden," said Lynds.

Fourth-placed Spin Around, attempting to become the oldest winner of the race at 9, also loomed as a threat on the turn to win a memorable double.

But rider Vinnie Colgan was far from disappointed with the run.

"That was a big effort to run fourth with 57kg after starting one from the outside," he said.

"I followed Ollie [Damien Oliver] the whole race and when he took off at the 600m I went with him.

"But he was just found wanting the last bit."

Trainer Steven Cooper said he would talk to the horse's owner before he made a decision on where to head next. "Regardless of age, he still wants to be a racehorse, that's the funny thing, and he proved today he can still take on the best."

Kiwi favourite Heza Karma Karzi, who was confidently tipped to give John Sargent some consolation for Passchendaele's scratching, was the biggest disappointment, tailing the field home, 90 lengths adrift of the winner.

Rider Craig Williams said he was happy with horse's position leaving the straight the first time.

"But in the last 1000m he failed to respond to my riding," he said.

Sargent's other runner, Young Centaur, fought on gamely for sixth.