Racing: Win seals Logan/Gibbs alliance

It was only an R76 race for a $12,000 stake, but it took Donna Logan's vision for a boutique stable to the next level at Ruakaka at the weekend.

Stabinthedark's closing card win marked the first win in partnership with Chris Gibbs, who joined forces with her and ex-husband Dean at the start of the new season.

While Gibbs has been stable foreman for more than a year, his elevation to the letterhead adds strength to a stable whose name has never been stronger.

The Logans have just come off a record-breaking season.

They had 33 local wins and for the first time cracked the magic million in stakes on both sides of the Tasman, thanks to big-race stars such Zabeat, Wings On Fire and El Fugaz.

The Logans also finished with one of the best strike rates of any of the leading stables.

And they are confident that the addition of Gibbs to the partnership can now only reinforce their push for even more quality over quantity in their yard.

After training on his own account a few years back, the son of Matamata icon Jim has worked in Japan and as stable foreman for Graeme Rogerson's stable in Melbourne.

"He's a very capable and astute horseman and I think he deserves the recognition for the work he's done," said Logan.

"And Dean and I are also at the stage of our lives where quality of life is pretty important and it's nice to be able to share things with other people and enjoy it."

Donna Logan was confident going into Saturday's meeting that at least one of her eight runners would give the partnership their first win.

But she admits that after four other local trainers saddled winners earlier in the day without her stable scoring, she was sweating a little going into the last race.

While she rated Stabinthedark promising enough for a New Zealand Derby campaign last season - the Logans decided not to run well before the March feature - she has reservations about his group-racing future.

"I think he's going to be a nice stayer but I'd question just how far he goes," said Logan, who also shares in the ownership of the Daggers Drawn 4-year-old. "He tries hard, but I'm not so sure he's really top-notch material.

Jazzella, one of the new partnership's brightest hopes this season, has just resumed work with the $70,000 Highview Stakes at Hastings on September 23 her first-up target.

Safely through that race, Logan said one of the most exciting 2-year-old fillies from last season would then be set for the 1000 Guineas at Riccarton on November 11.

"It's not the end of the world if we don't get to the Highview," said Logan.

"She only had three weeks off after her last run, and I probably would have liked to have given her a bit longer."

An early spring feature also now beckons for Ruakaka's feature winner at the weekend, Alls Well.

Trainer Davina Waddell is considering a run for her versatile 7-year-old in the listed Jim and Jack Evans Mile at Paeroa on September 23 and the Matamata Cup a fortnight later.

Alls Well's main target once again is the group one Avondale Cup (2200m) on December 6.

Waddell said Alls Well had a minor knee injury which stopped him from running in Shanamann's Taumarunui Cup last month.

But Waddell said the 11-race winner, who topped off his Ruakaka preparation with schooling on Friday, is now back to his best.

Clifton Prince and Magnetism may have had their reputations dented a little by the outsider Heza Cool Dude at the weekend, but they're also on target for richer spring assignments.

If he pulls up well, Magnetism runs next in the group one $200,000 Mudgway Partsworld Stakes (1400m) at Hastings on September 2, a race he beat only one home in last year.

Clifton Prince, though, is likely to bypass the Mudgway and instead tackle the easier Kelt Memorial (1400m) at Hastings on October 7.